Motswedi (means a fountain) Community Based Rehabilitation is a Church related non-profit making welfare project initiated by the Mothers Union of the Dutch Reformed Church in Mochudi Botswana, which is a member of Botswana Council of Churches (BCC). The Mother's Union besides meeting for Spiritual nourishment has since its inception been involved in Welfare and Community Development. The services are anchored on the premise that ""whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine you did for me"". During the course of Mothers Union's work in the community most people with disabilities were found lying around their homes without any provision for rehabilitation, welfare and educational needs. Volunteers mainly Mothers Union members participate in Outreach. The reasons for involving non-professional is to train them to identify people with disabilities in the community, teach and demonstrate prescribed physical exercises at basic level. One other important reason is to give the community a feeling of ownership - and sustain continuity of the programme.
 
 
It would not be advisable to suggest that there are no efforts made by the Government to provide services to the people with disabilities in Botswana. However disability is one area of need that was underserved.
 
In 1988 Mrs Grace Ramatsui a nurse by profession volunteered to co-ordinate Mothers Union projects. In 1990 she commissioned a survey with the support of Botswana Council of Churches. From there to date Botswana Council of Churches had a pivotal role in providing spiritual, moral, capacity building and financial support within its means. Some of the services that we supported with are Horticulture and Poultry, which have provided employment to the special youths both males and females, capacity building by co-funding staff scholarships and partly funded one of the classroom blocks. Presently we have seventeen (17) on sheltered employment and skills/ability training. Carpentry training with capacity of twenty(20) youths, will be introduced in the beginning of 2005 first term, construction is at plastering level.
 
From this survey it was evident that provision of services for people with disabilities were inadequate. It was also established that out of six hundred and eighty people with disabilities 30% were children of ages two to sixteen (2-16 years) with mental and physical disabilities who would have benefited from stimulation, welfare and placement for education. Furthermore a high incidence of congenital defects and disability from Road Traffic accidents was noted. On this basis we developed Community Based Rehabilitation to bridge the gap. In 1988 Mrs Grace Ramatsui a Nurse by p-rofession volunteered to co-ordinate Mothers Union projects. In 1993 with assertiveness she initiated CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation) outreach project. In 1995 developed Motswedi Community Based Rehabilitation Centre which is the first and only Non-Governmental Organisation project in Kgatleng District providing services for people with disabilities, 2000 expanded services to provide residential (hostel) care. The services now benefit people with disabilities countrywide.
 
Grace Ramatsui was awarded with:

• The Desmond Tutu Footprints of Legend - 2002


• Florence Nightingale 2003


• Presidential Meritorious in recognition of her services.

 
One of the areas she worked on was to motivate people with disabilities to form associations so that they speak with one voice through pressure groups. Regrettably people with disabilities associations in Botswana are not pro-active.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Strengthening of the existing National Community Based Rehabilitation(CBR) services to enable people with disabilities achieve their maximum potential.

VISION
Equalization of opportunities for people with disabilities.

AIM
To enable people with disabilities to achieve their full potential.

LONG TERM OBJECTIVE
Equal opportunities for people with disabilities in education, health and life skills social services and take part in decision-making in national affairs particularly in matters that concern them.

FUNDING
Government provides funding for recurrent expenditures wile donors including BCC give contribution in cash and kind.

SERVICES
Our programme provides a comprehensive provision of services to people with disabilities children and adults. Recently an effort was made towarda a holistic approach to include HIV and AIDS by teaming up with District Home Based Care Staff.

Outreach Services
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Programme

• Rehabilitation


• Counselling


• Adaptations of home environment

 
Physiotherapy

• Treatment of Clients through exercises


• Provision of assistive Aids and Appliances

 
Day Care Services

• Clients fetched on daily basis to and from their homes


• Transport to medical facilities


• Support for parents through Group Therapy which relate to specific Impairment groups e.g. Cerebral Palsy

 
Stimulation Class

• Teaching activities of daily living


• Pre-literacy skills (Number work and Reading)


• School placement in special/or mainstream schools.

 
Occupational/Skills Training in horticulture, poultry, sewing and basic home eonomics

• Teaching life skills


• Sheltered employment for youths with disabilities


• Literacy non-formal education for youth with learning disabilities.

Hostel Accomodation

• To accommodate children from remote areas


• Intensive physiotherapy


• Respite Care


• Orphans

 
Parents' Accommodation

• To accommodate visiting parents coming from outside the village.