Marianne Center Project is a training center for young people with disability. The training center is established in 2008 to focus on the (young) adults from the age of 16 till 50 years. The center wishes that mentally disabled people in Kenya have the same opportunities and inclusion in the society. The center has proven to be an innovative project that improves the lives of many mentally challenged people through education and information in order for them to live life and live it to the full! The project is offering activities including gardening, cooking, baking, housekeeping, computer training, carpentry, beadwork, tailoring, and arts and crafts. Other activities at the center include a nutrition program, events where students showcase their talents, open days and other awareness activities.
People with a mental disability are often associated with black magic and witchcraft. Families tend to hide children with a mental disability out of shame or despair. Often they lock their children in their homes and, as has been reported by the Down Syndrome Society of Kenya and the Kenya Society for Mentally Handicapped, sometimes even in cages. As a result, instead of positively being engaged, a person with a mental disability is often confronted with negative attitudes right from birth, like isolation, rejection and even abuse. Most people with a mental disability have a mild to moderate mental retardation. However, they can learn and are capable of developing skills throughout their lives.
Such people however have a wide range of talents that can be discovered at any moment in their younger age. One of the major shortcomings of the current educational system for (young) adults with a mental disability is that they are too old to be enrolled in a primary school, but mentally not capable to attend a normal secondary school. Establishing a training center for this group therefore gives them and their parents hope for a better future. This is where Marianne Center come in to bridge the gap. The project mission is to empower people with a mental disability and enable them to become more self-reliant, fully integrated and accepted members of society.
İş Tanımı
Taking part in the teaching of various subjects (mathematics, language, writing, drawing,
gardening, sewing, beadwork, computer skills and cleaning)
Organizing extra-curricular activities
General maintenance and cleaning of the centre
Provision of guiding and counselling services to the students
Farm work
Assisting in the kitchen: cooking, cleaning dishes, feeding
Konaklama ve Yemek
Accommodation will be at the project in shared rooms and it is important that you have your own sleeping bag and mosquito net. During the workcamp, volunteers will get food from locally available foodstuffs and will share the responsibility of preparing the food.
Konum ve Serbest Zaman
In this workcamp, volunteers can visit Lake Naivasha, Hells Gate, which is about a 1-hour drive from the project.
Notlar
CIVS organizes safaris to all the spectacular National Parks and touristic sites in Kenya, with the main attraction being Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Volunteers who wish to go on a safari should apply at least two weeks before arrival to enable us to make proper arrangements. The safari dates are as indicated in the workcamp program and the fee charged is all-inclusive of meals, transport, park entry, accommodation and tour guiding. The cost of a 3 days safari to Maasai Mara National Reserve with Serene East Africa Safaris is 620 USD in a Tour Jeep. The safari will be between 2nd and 4th of September