The enchanting van

The enchanting van will bring joy everywhere! It will bring playful activities to the homes of children with cancer and well-being activities for caregivers living in the central region of Portugal. To do this, we need to transform a regular van into an enchanting van.

The CaliSense on Wheels project won the BPI Fundação "la Caixa" Infância at the end of 2023. It aims to bring well-being in the form of play, music, painting, physical exercise, among others, to every corner of central Portugal where there is a child/young person with cancer. There are currently 160 undergoing treatment. The intervention methodology was tested in a pilot project and will be applied through the selection of the activity in a personalized way and in accordance with the tastes and preferences of the child/young person, with validation by the family, development of a specific intervention plan and development of regular sessions, with evaluation of satisfaction and impact.

It should be noted that normal life for these children and young people undergoing treatment and their caregiver stops completely, they find themselves deprived of going to school, socializing with peers and facing enormous suffering.

This is a 2-year project with a total value of €114,970.69, with a value attributed by the prize of €73,760, which envisages the acquisition of a van and its transformation, the acquisition of equipment, the hiring of a/ a project manager, a technician "on wheels" and 960 hours of activities provided free of charge to families. With this campaign, we need to raise €26,419.23 to transform and equip the vehicle!

The enchanting van will take itinerant recreational activities to the homes of children with cancer and well-being activities for caregivers living in the central region of Portugal.

About the author

Calioásis is a non-profit supporting families affected by pediatric cancer, founded in 2020, with headquarters in Aveiro and a technical office at the Hospital Pediátrico de Coimbra. Its mission is to contribute to family resilience, through a holistic approach focused on the humanization of care for sick children/young people and their caregivers, with the ambition of making a difference in promoting mental health, quality of life and well-being of these families. . It operates through innovative responses that have been awarded in Portugal and the CaliSense pilot project referenced at European level, and in partnership with public and private entities.

Budget and due dates

Budgeted amount: €26,420.06
*PPL commissions: €2,684.94

The budget to transform a van into an enchanting van contains the following specifications:

• two virtually divided areas: a play area for children and a relaxation space for the mother/father/caregiver, operating simultaneously.
• lined interior, easily disinfectable
• electric side gate, telescopic ramps for wheelchair access
• Folding table, chairs, closet
• Folding massage table, 2 puffs, television
• Washbasin, AC in the transformed area
• Outdoor awning, generator, wi-fi system
• Transformation approval
  

  It is imperative to start transforming and equipping the vehicle in July 2024 to start distributing magic in September 2024, in GOLDEN SEPTEMBER, International Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month.

Images