This project consists of developing volunteer actions based on the practice of Occupational Therapy. Our ambition is to raise awareness of this area and contribute to improving the needs of the population in disadvantaged contexts.
Occupational Therapy is an area of health aimed at training, rehabilitation and promotion of health and well-being of people who have compromised occupational performance . It aims to reinforce or enable the autonomous and independent participation of an individual, groups or populations, through the therapeutic use of everyday occupations. The Occupational Therapy intervention is based on the knowledge of the relationship between the person, the environment and the occupation . To this end, it works in partnership with people and organizations to optimize activity and participation, as defined by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.
In Cape Verde, according to the 2018-2020 national health promotion plan, there is no training and promotion of Occupational Therapy, with only the health areas of Nutrition, Psychology, Social Assistance, Physiotherapy and Nursing being referenced .
- MISSION
The project's mission is to direct Occupational Therapy students, teachers and professionals to disadvantaged countries, with the aim of developing volunteer actions.
For the success of the mission, the collaboration of an occupational therapist, or other health professional, from the country where the volunteer action will be implemented is essential. This contact on the ground facilitates the approximation with the community, facilitates the identification of the population's needs and ensures the continuity of the actions developed by the volunteers, when they are in the country, during the month of August.
The objective is to continue this project in the coming years, taking Occupational Therapy students and teachers to other countries. Finally, it is also intended to make community health care available free of charge in favor of health promotion, social participation, occupational justice and equity.
The project has several community-focused objectives, highlighting the provision of health care, community involvement in group activities and the promotion of health literacy.
- TARGET AUDIENCE
This project, in the year 2022, is intended for the population of Cape Verde with the highest incidence in the Mindelo region.
The main focus is the age group of children and young people, aged between 0 and 18 years old, with difficulties in occupational performance and/or associated pathologies, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cerebral palsy. , among others, these being the most identified by the local therapist. However , if necessary and possible, we do not rule out the possibility of covering other types of age groups.
- ACTION PLAN
Identified the target audience by the local therapist, the objective is to understand the reality of the place where it is intended to intervene, of the people and communities, as well as of the needs in terms of Occupational Therapy, mainly, therapeutic materials and support products. On the other hand, with the support of the local therapist we will have a list of people indicated by the same, who will benefit from Occupational Therapy.
For this project to become possible, since it is expensive, partnerships are needed both financially and in the collection of materials and equipment to take, in this way, it is necessary to contact people, institutions, companies and organizations. It is also planned to organize various actions with the aim of raising funds.
On site, the objective is to promote health literacy and Occupational Therapy, making the population aware of the importance of this profession. It is also intended to support children signaled by the therapist and intervene, through activities that promote occupational performance.
We ask for your collaboration in this project, which is being created completely from scratch, so that students and teachers can take this aspect of health, which is so sorely lacking in developing countries. We are not standing around waiting for things to get done, and for that we need your help to promote Occupational Therapy and make a difference. You can follow everything on our Instagram.
