By Vicky Ciulla
Special Hope Network Volunteer
Faith-based, inclusive, joyful, hopeful, positive, supportive, empowering, and life-changing are only a few adjectives I would use to describe the deeply moving work I witnessed first-hand in the Special Hope Network (SHN) Community Centers in Lusaka, Zambia. During my recent visit, I was honored to work with and learn from the Centers’ trainers, social workers, nurses, and program managers to support children with significant disabilities and their mothers.
It was a life-changing learning experience and a true blessing. SHN is a nonprofit Christian organization working in Zambia. It uses a parent education and coaching model and community outreach to change the nation’s mindset about including children with intellectual disabilities in schools, communities, churches, and their families. Thanks to new information provided during the parent education segment of each session, mothers shared their relief to learn they were not to blame for their children’s disabilities, as is often the sentiment of the Zambian culture.
When asked if their children had made progress, 100% of mothers agreed that not only had their child made progress, but they could do things at home they never thought possible. It was a delight to see brothers, a grandfather, and several fathers attend the Community Center sessions and learn how they could help the children learn the skills that would enable them to contribute to their families and communities.
Fathers shared that they were working with their wives to teach their children. Parents’ love for their children and the laughter and smiles on their faces during book reading, song, and social interaction time were priceless! These special bonds were also evident as the trainers modeled for parents how to teach their children academic and other skills. The Special Hope Network staff and parents are partners, and parents become their children’s primary teachers at home, facilitating their child’s progress.
As a special educator and administrator in the United States for over forty years, I am impressed with the research-based curriculum the Special Hope Network leaders developed with input from appropriate constituencies to meet children’s needs. While all children who attend the Community Centers have intellectual disabilities, the curriculum is differentiated based on the child’s specific disability and initial assessments of strengths and needs in cognitive development, communication, both expressive and receptive language, physical development, including gross motor and fine motor skills, academic skills in reading and math, adaptive skills, and social-emotional skills. The curriculum is reviewed for substance and alignment with skills that children need to complete self-care, daily routines, chores, work, and other requirements to function independently. Trainers and other center staff are provided professional development to ensure the instructional strategies used to teach parents are effective, and specialists are consulted as the curriculum is fine-tuned or expanded.
A progress monitoring infrastructure is in place where data is gathered to document the children’s rate of
progress and mastery of skills. In addition to the educational portion of the Special Hope Network, social workers and nurses work with local hospitals, medical facilities, and other partners to help families acquire medical treatment and other basic needs.
Community Outreach is a vital branch of the Special Hope Network. The leaders and staff of this division form partnerships with other organizations in Zambia to raise awareness of the need for students with intellectual disabilities to be included in all aspects of life. This collaborative approach is crucial in advocating for the rights of these children and ensuring they receive the support they need. Trained staff conduct regular home visits with families of children with intellectual disabilities to raise awareness of the program’s offerings. An advocate training program prepares interested individuals to serve as advocates for students with disabilities within the community on various levels. Most recently, a graduation ceremony for recently trained advocates was held with government officials in attendance, highlighting the importance of collective action in advocating for the rights of children with disabilities.
While Special Hope Network is achieving amazing things, there continues to be a real need for resources for the program to continue its faithful work. The real struggles of all Zambians and those working with Special Hope Network were ever-present during my visit. The ongoing drought in Zambia has left many without power and water, leading to crop losses and job cuts. The centers and other services provided by the SHN are a source of faith, support, and refuge for families of children with disabilities. The situation’s urgency and the need for support are apparent, making the SHN’s work more critical than ever. Your support is crucial in ensuring the continuation of this life-changing work.