Wholistic Ministry –Changing the lives of people The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus-Center for Mentally Challenged Children was established in 1986 at Urael Child Day Care Center as pilot project to train children with intellectual disabilities under the then development department. At the beginning, it was hard to get children with intellectual disabilities, because the community believed that disability is a curse, result of ancestors’ wrong doing, taboo and as a result, the children were locked at one room. Considering the situation the EECMY started a day care center with eight children; which was the first of its kind in the country. Awareness raising was given at churches, market places, social gatherings/ idir, and kebele about the center. In time some parents started to bring their children to the center. From time to time the number of children increased, then EECMY constructed new day care center at Mekenissa with all facilities in 1995. Now there are two day care centers with 375 children getting services. On 24 June, 2014 forty five youth who completed three years Life and work skills training graduated at the presence of the church leaders, DASSC commissioner, invited guests and their parents. This graduation was performed for the 7th time. The center graduated 305 youths until now and rehabilitated them in the community; their parents also got training to work with their children and aware others. Rev. Yonas Ygezu, EECMY Department of Mission and Theology Director shared the scripture about the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus. He said the grace of the Lord brought Jesus to his house and included him into the kingdom of God. The church should not exclude any part of society from their ministerial endeavors, as all should see Jesus and be touched by the grace of God. Concluding his teaching, he stated that “God has not sent anyone to earth without skill.” Girma Borishie, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus-Development and Social Services Commission Commissioner, in his speech at the event said, according to the Church’s mission statement- serving the whole person- the church has a mandate to take care of and help the mentally challenged in the society. He mentioned that the EECMY serves more than 19,000 people in various locations who are mentally challenged and handicapped. With the General objective of improving the quality life of children with mentally challenges/ with intellectual disability, the EECMY Center for Mentally Challenged Children provides these services: A) Early intervention -Training of mothers in area of disabilities -Provision of therapeutic exercises like physio, speech, occupational, feeding therapies -Appliances provision for children with multiple disabilities -Referral of children to regular schools, hospitals, orthopedic center -Home visit of children with severe disabilities B) Pre-group - Train pre-group adaptive skill - Train Self help skills (Eating, Toileting, Dressing, and Grooming) -Train communication skills -Train social skills - Train fine & gross motor skills C) Montessori teaching / self teaching -Encourage children to use all their sense organs -Fine motor training and physical sport activities or Gross motor activities -Encourage children to communicate with each other -Training of numbers and alphabets D) Pre Vocational training -Train them how to use public transport above the age of 15 by their own -Training of music and arts -Training of Daily Living Activities -Training of physical activities and sport E) Life and Work Skills Training -Train, tailored business skills, like pity trade, value of money, - Agriculture like animal rearing, gardening -Food preparation, printing -knitting and embroidery - Art and Sport activities in every classroom F) Empowering parents economically and socially -Visit to families home and know their standard of living -Training of basic business skills for parents -Share experiences from others who benefited from IGA and encourage them. -Follow-up the activities of IGA The EECMY Center for Mentally Challenged Children is changing the lives of many children and as part of the Church’s wholistic ministry.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 06:28:37 +0000
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