Social and Mental Health Care Internship in Port Elizabeth, South Africa Ithemba

Vacancy number: [PE201105]

Period: From 3 months, with a maximum of 6 months, between September and December 2011. 

Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa 

Study background: Physiotherapy, social studies. If your study is not mentioned here, give us a call and we will discuss the possibilities. 

Project information – Ithemba Special Day Care Centre

Ithemba Special Day Care Centre is a project run under the auspices of Port Elizabeth Mental Health, a Non Governmental Organization, which has served the community and people of Port Elizabeth since 1939 and has been at the fore front in the establishment of services for persons with mental disabilities and their families. Port Elizabeth Mental Health Society strives to be a dynamic movement that serves as an effective resource to empower people to attain optimal mental wellbeing and quality of life in a just society. 

We work actively with the community to achieve the highest level of mental health for all by:

• Enabling people to participate in identifying community mental health needs and responding appropriately
• Developing equal, caring services for people having difficulty coping with everyday life, and those with mental illness and mental handicap
• Creating public awareness of mental health issues and striving for recognition and protection of mental health rights. 

In September, 1988, Jill Gardener, a social worker from Port Elizabeth Mental Health Society, Fezi Quma and Boniswa Gege, went into the townships to find out if there was a need for such a centre. They found that there was a tremendous need! They started a centre for township children and operated from an empty ward at Dora Nginza Hospital. Awareness of the centre soon spread and the number of children increased. It was very crowded in this ward and stakeholders realized the need to build our own centre. Land was purchased (at full price) from the Municipality - despite many efforts to get a reduction in price as was given to sports clubs. A brick making project was started where adults, with an intellectual disability were taught to make bricks.  These bricks were then used to build the centre. Emtonjeni Training Centre gave building courses - and in such a manner, our centre came into being.   In 1994, we moved to our very own building in First Street, Windvogel. We aim to make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities and that of their families, to ensure that they are able to live more independently and satisfactorily in the community.

Activities at the project

Ithemba is the Xhosa word for “hope”.  Our aim is to bring hope to children with severe to profound intellectual / multiple disabilities as well as to the families, this is done through:

• A Day Centre for stimulation, education and training to improve skills to 44 children
• Provision of 2 nutritious meals a day
• Provision of daily transport for the children to and from the Centre
• Early childhood development training
• Social activities
• Network with schools, communities and international contacts
• Fundraising initiatives
• Public awareness and marketing of the services
• Caregiver support groups
• Empowerment of project committee members to prepare then to take greater responsibilities for the centres in the communities
• Evaluation of individual cases and overall objectives twice per annum    

What we offer

Competencies you will learn:

• Experience in working in a specialized field of expertise
• Facilitating a stimulation programme for children with disabilities
• Public speaking
• Marketing and awareness
• Teamwork
• Networking with other stakeholders
• The ability to multi-task

Guidance during your internship:

• Two-week orientation programme
• Weekly consultation sessions with the centre manager 
• Monthly team meetings
• Monthly supervision / feedback session with Programme Manager
• Professional, dynamic and friendly environment

At the project, you will be guided by Dutch Be More regional co-ordinator who holds a Bachelor's Degree. She will support you when you have any questions or face difficulties during your assignment.

What we ask

On our website you'll find the general conditions for our vacancies. Specifically for this vacancy we are looking for someone with the following characteristics and skills:

• Patience and humility in working with children with multiple disabilities
• Initiative, enthusiasm and creativity 
• Flexibility and teamwork
• Keen interest in wanting to make a sustainable difference at the project
• Openness and adaptability towards different cultures
•  Guidance in implementation of diverse skills and knowledge base
• Assisting team with fundraising initiatives
•  Ability to communicate in English

Accommodation and transport

You will sleep at a B&B, which will host many other volunteers and students. The transport from and to the project will be arranged by the centre manager. Also airport pick-ups and drop-off will be arranged by the project.  

Costs

 The housing costs for this internship are € 370,- per month. 

 This includes:

• Breakfast and supper
• Accommodation 
• Transport from and to the project 

Next to the project costs there is a Be More fee. This fee covers the guidance and arrangements for your internship. The Be More fee is €215,- per month during the first 3 months and €100,- for every extra month after this period.