Author Archives: SD USA

International Child Development Programme (ICDP)

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Anita Limbu holding her daughter, Unisa.

Anita Limbu is a single mother with a daughter called Unisa. Unisa suffers from cerebral palsy. Anita does not receive support and love from her family and relatives, so all the responsibility for Unisa lies on her shoulders alone. This mother used to feel a great deal of frustration and burden, but then she had the opportunity to join the ICDP caregiver meetings where she met other mothers whose children were also suffering from cerebral palsy. During the first ICDP sessions she cried a lot, as she was becoming more and more aware of Unisa’s needs that she had been ignoring. She started to see her child as a person rather than a burden and this made her behave in a much more positive way towards her. Anita reported that one day Unisa asked her why she was not beating and scolding her as she used to do before — Anita’s eyes were full of tears while telling about this and realizing how negatively she had been treating her daughter. Her daughter can’t speak but can express her emotions and feelings with her gestures. Anita is now caring and expressing love towards her daughter more than before and she said that Unisa is a great deal happier now. Anita said that she is grateful to have been able to attend the ICDP caregiver meetings and wants to be an example for other mothers with children with disabilities.

International Child Development Programme (ICDP) is a competence-building organization in the field of psycho-social and educational care for children. 

The objective is to work for the healthy development of children worldwide by implementing a simple but effective psychosocial intervention programme that is based on scientific research in child development and that can enhance children’s psychosocial development and wellbeing. ICDP works with children’s caregivers to create a loving, caring and guiding educational environment for children. 

The work is based on the principles that are laid down in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. ICDP is another expression of the same humanitarian spirit as encoded in the CRC. The ethos is to provide for human care through activating empathy, sensitivity and education of both caregivers and their children and by strengthening local initiative. Introducing children’s rights is likely to have a major impact if efforts are also made to activate awareness and deeper bonding to children as persons (Hundeide & Armstrong, 2011).

ICDP is non-political and non-denominational. It may participate directly or indirectly in activities run by other humanitarian organization having corresponding objectives. The point is to sensitize, build competence and confidence in members of a community or an existing child caring system, and then withdraw. The purpose of cooperation with partner organizations is to offer training, educational and moral support, thus ensuring the quality of ICDP work and positive impact on the development of caregivers and children.

By participating in ICDP, caregivers learn general principles of child rearing that are universal and present in most cultures, which makes the programme flexible and culturally adaptable.

Research suggests that human development and the physiological development of the brain, depends on proper interaction between a caring adult and the growing child. In normal circumstances such learning happens naturally, but when families are uprooted through social changes, migration, catastrophes, children losing their parents, or having been numbed by severe deprivation and emotional shock, this care often breaks down and has to be reactivated through skilled help. If children do not receive sufficient love and guidance while they are young, the problem also perpetuates itself because later on they become inadequate parents. ICDP’s focus, therefore, is on trying to break this cycle.

Make a donation to ICDP

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Quest Center for Integrative Health

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Quest Center for Integrative Health (Quest) is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit wellness center that provides multidisciplinary and integrative healthcare in a community-based setting to all people. Founded in 1989 by two friends, Lusijah Marx, RN, PMHNP, PsyD, and Lucas Harris, Quest was originally a psychosocial support service provider for people living with HIV/AIDS. Since that time, Quest’s services have expanded to include all those living with chronic illnesses and pain in addition to a holistically focused medical/wellness component. For three decades, Quest has striven to meet the needs of people who are experiencing challenges to their physical, mental and emotional health. They endeavor to create a place of healing, where their clients trust and value Quest Center as an inclusive, empowering, safe and diverse community of support.

Quest’s mission is to provide integrative healthcare services, education and inclusive community support to those seeking a wellness-focused approach for fully living. We operate five pillar programs including:

  • WISH (Wellness, Integrity & Sustainable Health): a non-opioid based, medical and behavioral health program designed to treat chronic pain for low-income communities;
  • FSR (Finding and Sustaining Recovery): an outpatient substance treatment program, including housing for houseless LGBTQIA2S+ and HIV+ people;
  • Medical and Wellness Services: naturopathic, osteopathic, Chinese medicine, yoga, acupuncture and nutritional education;
  • HIV Services: opt-out HIV testing, individual and group therapy, peer support, and HIV educational services, this program offers the only psychosocial support group for women living with HIV and their children;
  • Mental Health Services: evaluations, individual and group therapy, and client-centered services; 

With our roots in non-profit service, we believe strongly in excellence of service and the same quality and variety of care options should be available to all of our patients, regardless of income, insurance, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, race, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, HIV status, or chronic health conditions. Our commitment to evidence-based practice with at-risk populations is fundamental to our work and essential to the health of our community.

We offer services to uninsured and underinsured clients based on outside funding sources through the generosity of government agencies, corporations, foundations, and individual friends of Quest Center.

Contact Quest
(+1) 503 238-5203
info@quest-center.org 

Make a donation to Quest!

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I Protect Me (IPM)

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Randall Maarman, IPM’s Executive Director with trainer Chris and Mina, the CEO of Masithembele.

Cape Town, South Africa

Sexual and gender-based violence is a pervasive and serious problem in South Africa. It is in families, schools, and the community. To help children learn to protect themselves, Monica Clarke started a program in the schools in 2013. The program uses the methodology of Kenya’s Dolphin Anti-Rape and AIDS Outreach. In primary schools protection skills are taught through song, dance, and storytelling. In 2013 a pilot program in the Western Cape reached 1,500 primary school children. Since then approximately 5,000 children in five primary schools have learned the skills. As result of the program’s positive impact, efforts were made to raise funds to offer it in ten high schools in Cape Town. 

The project now has a Project Director, Randall Maarman, who has a degree in Anthropology with an emphasis in social studies. In addition to his national duties, Randall manages IPM in the Eastern Cape Province where he lives. IPM is working closely with the school system in the Department of Safe Schools. Randall has opened many doors and board rooms as well as stepped up outreach programs. Under his guidance the program has expanded and become well known in the communities where it is used.

The program has trained Prevention Workers (PW) for primary schools and is also training Peer Trainers, who are students age 16 and older. Peer Trainers are prepared to give Resilience and Self-Defense training to their high school and junior high school peers. They work under the supervision of Prevention Workers. In addition to training almost 3000 students in high school assemblies, the Peer Trainers have also worked with Primary and Secondary school students and in the community with almost 1000 parents in Forum Discussions and 50 adults in church groups. And two weekend mentoring camps have been held.

I Protect Me train-the-trainers workshop in Mitchell’s Plain

In the few years IPM has been working in schools and the community it has been successful enough to be invited to work with partnership called Partnerships for Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls in Southern Africa (PfP). IPM is one of only three local non-profit organizations that were invited to implement the plan in the Eastern Cape Province. It is not yet clear, but seems probable, that they would like to incorporate the approach IPM uses in schools. It is a great honor for IPM to be included and will be interesting to watch as it unfolds. 

IPM’s basic belief is that the only way to make a measurable difference is to change the mindset of violence through raising awareness combined with protection training. With protection training in schools a new generation of South African children will emerge who know how to both set and respect personal boundaries. 

Watch this video from I Protect Me

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Beautiful Portland

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“Distributing food to our Portland neighbors is an act of peace. Hunger fosters fear and violence—nourishment calms and comforts. Though I cannot solve the economic or housing crises that are crushing the lower economic tiers of residents in Portland, I can become a conduit for love, comfort and abundance by being a part of a network of volunteers offering consistent nourishment.”

Jennifer Skyler received the first grant from the Melinda Wallis Memorial Fund to support her efforts to distribute hot food to the homeless in Portland, Oregon.

Hi Elizabeth, Marilyn & Aminah,

Here we are in downtown Portland, serving the beautiful roasted veggies & beans & rice made by Subud Sisters, and the take-away food provided by Elizabeth! I’m wearing a grey ski cap and behind me you can see the line beginning to extend around the block. It was in the freezing temperatures & the wind chill made it in the 20’s, but still, folks lined up!

Our Subud brother Vien has been consistently supplying us with warm blankets & clothes donated by Portland Subud members. It takes a Beautiful village. Thank you all for your loving support!

Jenny

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