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We are all looking for a place in our society –

 a continued search to belong. At Avodah parents of mentally handicapped children gets a well-deserved break while their children can play and learn in an environment of unforgiving love, lots of excitement, fun activities and just being together with others. 

These children are often easy targets and victims of inhuman actions during their daily circumstances.  To be able to earn a living parents are frequently forced to lock these kids in their houses.  This unfortunate reality is sometimes the only way they can think of protecting their children.  Avodah offers parents from this community peach of mind in knowing that their special needs children are well supervised and cared for.   

It is wonderful to see how these kids have grown to love each other. They are so attached that their little hearts are broken should their friend not pitch up that day.  The group meets three times a week and start their morning with some coffee and reading the Bible. After this, they will focus on personal development and community protection, activities and then end their day with something to eat.      

This term the focus was on fine motor skills.  In this specific case, the goal of a well-developed fine motor skill was to teach them how to write their names and count coins. It will be vital for them to learn the pinch grip where your thumb and index finger or thumb and middle fingers work together, as they will constantly use this technique while at home, work, playing, writing and sometimes painting. At home, they will be able to comb or tie their hair, fasten their shoelaces and shirt buttons, be able to manipulate a zip and get dressed and undressed. During playtime,  they will be able to use this function by playing dominos, cards, threading beads and painting without any help.  It all comes down to the fact that they must be able to help themselves.

Avodah offers an opportunity for these kids to learn and socialize together, to be surrounded by friends and to help them realize that they also have a special place here.  They can now feel they belong.  Not one of these members want to miss a morning at Avodah, and Aunty Jacky often gets a knock on her door wanting to hear “when are we getting together again, Aunty?”

Ons almal soek ‘n plekkie in die samelewing; ‘n soektog na “behoort”. By Avodah word nie net ouers geseën met ‘n blaaskans nie, maar hul verstandelike gestremde kinders is in ‘n omgewing van opwinding, samesein, prettige aktiwiteite en onvoorbaarlike liefde.

In hul daaglikse omstandighede is hulle dikwels ‘n maklike teiken en die slagoffers van onmenslike aksies. Ouers moet gereeld hul kinders in die huis toesluit om in staat te kan wees om te gaan werk en ‘n inkomste te verdien.  Dis ongelukkig die realiteit dat dit die enigste manier is waaraan hulle kan dink om hul kinders te beskerm.  Avodah bied ouers in die gemeenskap die geleentheid om met rustigheid te kan weet dat daar goeie toesig oor hul verstandelike gestremde kinders is.

Dis dierbaar om te sien hoe hierdie lede so lief geword het vir mekaar.  Selfs só dat hulle seer harte het as die ander een nie opdaag daardie oggend nie. Hul groepie kom drie maal per week bymekaar waar hulle begin deur saam koffie te drink en Bybel te lees. Hierna sal hulle fokus op persoonlike ontwikkeling en beskerming in ‘n gemeenskap, vaardige aktiwiteite en later afsluit deur saam te eet.

Hierdie kwartaal is daar spesifiek gefokus op klein motoriese vaadighede. Die hoof doel vir goed ontwikkelde klein motoriese vaardighede in hierdie geval is funksie sodat hulle funksioneel kan wees wanneer hulle byvoorbeeld hul naam moet skryf of as hulle hul munte moet tel. Ook as hulle êrens moet werk soos in ‘n kombuis of in ‘n produksielyn of waar ookal hulle geplaas. Oral sal hulle goedjies moet doen wat die knypgreep, waar jou duim en indeksvinger of die duim en middelvinger saam is, gebruik. Hierdie vaardigheid is van kardinale belang vir die vashou van ‘n potlood of selfs ‘n verfkwas.  Selfs by die huis benodig hulle fyn motoriese vaardighede vir die vasmaak van hul hare en skoenveters of om knope of ritsluiters te manipuleer vir die aan- en uittrek van klere.  Ook ‘n belangrike gebruik hiervan is in hul vryetyd. Dit help hulle om in staat te wees om goed te kan doen soos domino’s speel, kaart speel, krale ryg en self verf.  Die basiese beginsel kom daarop neer dat hulle funksioneel moet wees.

Avodah is ‘n geleentheid vir hierdie mense om te leer, saam te kuier, omring te wees met vriende en te kan besef dat daar ook vir hulle ‘n plekkie in die samelewing is. Hulle kan nou voel hulle behoort. Nie een van hierdie lede wil ooit ‘n oggend uitmis nie en ou Tannie Jacky kry ‘n gereelde klop aan haar voordeur om te hoor: “Wanneer kom ons weer bymekaar, tannie?”