Project Overview
Mary MacKillop Huasi is a centre founded by the SOSJ in Peru, providing therapies to children with disabilities, and support to their families. Children with disability in Peru face significant challenges accessing education and health care. This is particularly evident in the informal settlements of Lima where children with disability face a myriad of physical and social barriers when it comes to accessing effective and affordable health services.
At the Mary MacKillop Huasi Centre, children with disabilities have access to vital health and education services including physiotherapy and speech therapy within the underserviced informal settlements of Lima. Furthermore parents, caregivers and community members will have increased awareness of the rights of people with disability because of regular awareness activities.
Activities
- Children and adults with disability have access to allied health services such as language therapy, physiotherapy and life skills workshops.
- Parents of children with disability attend bi-monthly workshops to build their skills and knowledge as carers, while developing a much needed support network.
Impact
- Up to 100 children with disability have increased access to vital health services.
- 135 parents develop new knowledge and skills through one-to-one consultations or bi-monthly workshops, building their capacity to create supportive and safe home environments for children with disability.
Rosalia’s Story
Rosalia is a mother of three living in Jicamarca, a settlement on the outskirts of Lima. Rosalia’s youngest two boys both have autism, a condition that is widely misunderstood in many parts of Peru. For the past year, Rosalia’s boys have been accessing health services such as physiotherapy, language therapy and life skills workshops through the Community Health Project.
“They are independent now, they go to school regularly… [It is] thanks to the therapists, the Centre, for the support they give us. My hope, as a mum, as their mum, is that every day they make more progress …That is what I want, and that is why day by day I make the effort.”
Stories from our blog
- 1 March 2022 – With your support, the Sisters are reaching those most in need in Peru
- 8 February 2017 – Health… treating all equally
