Inclusion is part of a much larger picture than just the placement in the class within mainstream schools. It is also about being included in life and participating in day to day activities as a member of the community using one’s abilities. The inclusion process must incorporate fundamental change in the way a community supports and addresses the individual needs of the child. The Sibling Workshops are one step towards that change.
Since 2016, SEP has organized Sibling Workshops in partnership with Smile for Change-Sarakasi Trust with the aim of creating a platform for the siblings to learn about their sibling with disability, share experiences, talk about their feelings, their worries and their fears, and have fun with their peers. The Sarakasi team do what they do best: they use different games, songs, puppet shows and plays, with the aim to create more awareness on disability.
The Sibling Workshops are scheduled 2 times a year during the school holidays. The workshops have proven to be beneficial for the siblings in understanding disabilities, their causes and how to support their peers with disabilities. It is also a good place for them to vent their feelings and help them cope with the family situation. The workshops end with a performance for parents and community members creating awareness on the challenges siblings of children with disabilities face.
If you would like to support the Sibling Workshops or need further information, kindly contact the SEP office on Tel. 0733267869 or via email at [email protected].
Why are Sibling Workshops needed
Having a child with disability in the family affects every family member, including the siblings. Very often these siblings have to take on huge responsibilities and take care of the child with disability, despite their own age. Due to that, they rarely get a chance to express themselves. This leads to different reactions e.g. feeling neglected, embarrassed, sad or stressed. They are often in the shadows since most of the parents’ attention goes to the child with disability. Furthermore, the siblings are often confronted with high expectations from the parents. Facing stigma in the school and community is sometimes another challenge the siblings have. Therefore, the Siblings Workshops give the siblings of children with disabilities a place to vent their feelings and help them cope with the family situation.
The performance for parents and members of the community is often an eye opener for the parents to understand the needs and challenges of the siblings.