LAMb International works to come behind the nationals - helping them to face the many challenges they experience in serving children, those with disabilities, the widows and families who are in crisis. We are committed to our defining scripture - Ephesians 4:12. "to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."
With our present work in Ukraine and in Kyrgyzstan, we see the nationals stepping up and making a difference. ILDC in Ukraine is carrying out activities that are bringing leaders to new levels of confidence, encouraging pastors, helping lead studies in Bible Colleges and providing critical skills and abilities to those working with children and families. The project Adopt Ukraine has been most successful - helping many national families adopt, supporting them through crisis and being there to provide resources as many families have struggled to keep their families together. Soon we will offer comprehensive training on a number of areas that are critical for Ukraine at this time: training on working with children who have experienced trauma and training on working through adoption issues that can and sometimes lead to adoption disruption.
As well, we will be conducting training events with Christian families who have adopted, facilitating a retreat with Christian adoptive families and their children - along with our team members Pastor David and Jayne Schooler.
Our team in Ukraine work together to ensure they are providing resources, such as translated books, and other tools as well. We are proud of our staff in Ukraine. They are true champions for UKRAINE WITHOUT ORPHANS.
In Kyrgyzstan we are seeing great results with Dayspring and now the Jeremiah Project (see previous blog on the details of the projects). Youth are finding success in school, showing signs of emotional well-being and developing as young people in every area of development.
And we continue...the BUS HAS NOT STOPPED.... we have an awesome team in Kyrgyzstan!
Today, we want to let you know the work that is ahead for the Kyrgyzstan team - work to strengthen the resources and grow the mind change in how those with disabilities are treated. This small pilot project cannot do it all, but it can open the doors to paradigm shifts in thinking, get nationals involved in helping instead of judging and become a training/learning tool for other NGO's who are looking to ensure they are HELPING AND NOT HURTING. It is small, but large in potential. We are called to equip - to activate. We are thankful for such a glorious opportunity - and thank you for being our supporters and encouragers.
NOW THE PROJECT......
DISCOVERY PROJECT
Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan
(A Project Result from work with Hope
Alaska)
Draft
Vision: Kyrgyzstan would recognize the state role and
responsibility to provide resources and services to those who have been
identified as having developmental disabilities. That by recognizing the
responsibility of the state, the disabled would find life in Kyrgyzstan
offering them equal opportunities for well-being through growth, education and
employment countrywide.
Mission of
Discovery Project: Discovery Project will serve the people of Tokmok and surrounding area. ILDC/LAMb International endeavor to reach out
into the community, assess needs and wants and then to provide different
opportunities for the developmentally disabled related to assessment. We hope to bring hope and dignity to those
who come into the project, by teaching Life Skills, native culture crafts, and
offer socialization for those who have been isolated from society. In addition, we hope to provide strong and
evidenced based training programs that will give those with disabilities skills
and knowledge that will open doors to interdependent living and employment.
PROJECT MANAGER: TO BE ANNOUNCED (National will be hired.)
COMPONENTS OF THE
PROJECT
PART 1: WORK
WITH STAFF AT IKSRA HOME FOR DISABLED MEN AND OTHERS WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE
LEARNINGS FROM HOPE ALASKA
With the training that Larisa
and Tanya have received while in Alaska, it became our goal to transfer as much
of this learning as possible to the staff at Iskra, Home for Disabled Men.
Larisa agreed to bring this
training to the staff. In addition, Hope
has agreed to make several training videos which we will have dubbed into Russian
– these videos will be used for training events at Iskra as well as at other
training events scheduled by LAMb International.
Hope Alaska has agreed to
come to Kyrgyzstan to review the progress of the transfer of skills. They will be there to coach and further the
transfer of learning received by Larisa and Tanya and to work with other team
members who are interested in being involved in the Hope Project in the future
Initial Activities:
- Work with Larisa and Tanya to identify what training is needed and set up training venues – March/April 2013
- Develop relationship with disabled home in Tokmok - begin discussions of how we might be able to join with them for the project – possibly finding one of their workers who could go to Alaska to learn and come back to share as well.
PART 2: DEVELOP
THE DISCOVERY CENTER FOR DISABLED PERSONS
THE DISCOVERY Center will be
developed as a model from the Discovery Center that Hope Alaska has created to
bring together disabled persons for a variety of reasons: socialization, learning and fun.
The Discovery Center in
Kyrgyzstan will be located in Tokmok. We
will offer social activities, a place for the disabled to come and take craft
classes, learn different skills and like Hope – just have fun. We will cater to all ages…with dance, music
and activities that will enrich the lives of the disabled from Iskra, other
disabled homes and Tokmok area.
The Discovery Center will be
a place in which volunteers will be utilized to serve the disabled.
Our first step in moving
forward with the Discovery Center will be to use the present Jeremiah Project
Drop in Center as a resource for the start of the Discovery Center.
Activities:
- Discuss with Red Cross and Social Services the option for JPDIC.
- Once discussions are completed – sit with staff and make a plan for how we are going to find those who would be willing to come to DC.
PART 3: DEVELOP
RESOURCES AND A SUPPORT GROUP FOR MOMS WHO HAVE CHLDREN WHO ARE DISABLED
When we have identified
families who have children living at home who are disabled, we will offer to
these families different supports and resources – including helping them get to
the Discovery Center for training and being involved with a support group.
Support for the moms could
include any of the following:
- · Training
- · Consultation
- · Respite care
- · Resource management
- · Socialization with other moms – support group
- Etc.
Activities:
- Massage training (accomplished – February, 2013 - coordinated by Olga - our Residential Director) for moms of children with developmental disabilities
- Work with Tokmok Social Services to identify families who might be interested in using resources – especially moms with children in their homes who have developmental disabilities
- Identify and contact adult persons with disabilities who might be interested in classes in computer, crafts, support groups, etc. (Create a specific group of questions to gather data about those in community who are not being served.)
PART 4: DEVELOP
A SUPPORT GROUP FOR DISABLED PERSONS – WHICH INCLUDES TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM
PARADISE CENTER
At this time, there are no
support groups for adult disabled persons or their families. At Discovery Center we are hoping to offer
this service. We will also provide
transportation where possible for those who would like to be involved but
cannot be involved.
Activity:
- Identify support group facilitators
- Bring together a pilot group and conduct first support group
- Review and develop a plan to continue
PART 5: DEVELOP
AN EMPLOYMENT/BUSINESS PLAN FOR DISABLED PERSONS
Employment is essentially
impossible for those persons who are disabled in Kg. We want to find a “cottage industry” in which
persons can be employed. This could be
as simple as persons making native crafts at the Dscovery Center and selling
them to foreigners who come in teams.
Activity:
- Assess the skills of a group of disabled persons who have been identified that they would like to work.
- Explore options for employment in the community
- Make a plan for an ongoing assessment of community possibilities and opportunities for employment of those with disabilities
PART 6: DEVELOP A PLAN FOR BRINGING PERSONS FROM
INSTITUTIONS (WHO ARE ABLE) INTO INDEPENDENT LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY - PURCHASE
A HOME
At this time, Larisa and Tanya
have identified persons from Iskra who could live independent of the
institution. We hope to create a pilot
for this – keeping the home in Iskra – close to the institution so those men
who choose to participate in the move can remain connected to their friends at
Iskra. We will be transporting men into
Tokmok to join activities at Discovery Center – and envision these men to be
our team who will help in some way as volunteers with our support group, etc.
Activity:
- Identify men who might be candidates for this experience
- Develop a preparation – training program for the men; along with practice sessions at Discovery Center
- Once initial activities are complete – make a plan for purchase and transition
PART 7: DEVELOP
A VOLUNTEER TEAM OF PERSONS TO WORK WITH THE DISABLED
Volunteerism in Eastern
Europe and Central Asia are somewhat foreign.
However, we are seeing interest from the churches and from the
university students. We will formalize a
volunteer program and when these persons actively take part in volunteering –
we will consider them for additional training and work in Alaska with Hope.
Activity:
- Connect with HOPE and get the list of persons wanting to go to Hope for training and work experience
- Meet with prospective persons identified by HOPE as having shown interest
- Bring together a group of university students that have answered an ad for volunteers – explain the opportunities – take note of those who continue to be interested
- Create a volunteer guideline protocol, etc
- Train volunteers and crate a monitoring plan for their work
PART 8: DEVELOP
A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH HOPE ALASKA TO CONTINUE TRAINING TEAMS FROM KG –
WHO WILL RETURN TO WORK WITHIN THE PROJECTS OF LAMB.
Hope has indicated an
interest to continue a working relationship together and have additional
students come and study. We have been
asked to “vet” these potential applicants.
We will do this through our volunteer program..
Activities:
· See activities from Part 7 – use these interested
persons as potential candidates for HOPE for 2013/2014/
- Make a plan to send four persons from Kyrgyzstan (who have been acting as volunteers in one or more of the LAMb projects) to Alaska in the Fall of 2013.
- Develop a budget for the trip of the four to HOPE, 2013.
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