MISSION To create a dynamic movement that promotes mental wellbeing and resilience in the Eastern Cape. We facilitate training, skills development and community driven support networks that unlock local resources and inspire innovation amongst learning partners. We further advocate for inclusion and rights protection of people with intellectual and psycho-social disabilities. PRINCIPLES PEMH has come a long way, emerging, as did many other traditional welfare organisations, from a model that served an exclusive minority within the population (in particular those from the White minority population) using a top down 'medical' approach aimed at 'correcting' what were seen as ... read more MISSION To create a dynamic movement that promotes mental wellbeing and resilience in the Eastern Cape. We facilitate training, skills development and community driven support networks that unlock local resources and inspire innovation amongst learning partners. We further advocate for inclusion and rights protection of people with intellectual and psycho-social disabilities. PRINCIPLES PEMH has come a long way, emerging, as did many other traditional welfare organisations, from a model that served an exclusive minority within the population (in particular those from the White minority population) using a top down 'medical' approach aimed at 'correcting' what were seen as 'deviations' from the norm in society. Today, PEMH has turned this model on its head. The following PEMH principles demonstrates this philosophy: Our First Principle is Integration: it is both necessary and possible to integrate people with disabilities (PWD) into mainstream society and community contexts. About one in ten can be classified as living with disabilities: people who have been and often continue to be hidden in dark rooms, shamed, scorned and excluded by the rest of society. Our aim is to integrate into society PWD, in this case, those with intellectual disabilities in accordance with the most advanced international frameworks. Our Second Principle is Recognition of Potential: we make a key assumption that each and every individual has the potential to grow into the best that they can possibly be. As such, we do not judge or pigeon-hole people, thus limiting their inherent creativity and capacity to develop. Our Third Principle is Outreach: PEMH strives to reach out to the most marginalised and disempowered sectors of our society by promoting mental wellbeing in communities that have the least access to opportunities and resources. Our Fourth Principle is the Centrality of a Developmental Approach: whereby each beneficiary, his or her immediate family and community are placed at the centre of this development process. Welfare handouts or processes may have some place, but we try to minimise this, providing as we do the space for agency: for beneficiaries and communities to take the initiative, to lead, to take responsibility for their own development path. Our Fifth Principle is Unlocking Assets: PEMH recognises that embedded in local communities is a wealth of - often hidden - assets, be these resilient community networks, valuable cultural practices and knowledge, practical skills and talents, as well as material resources. These assets are often hidden, or at least, not immediately apparent to those involved. PEMH strives to assist our beneficiaries to identify and unlock these assets, with a view to taking charge of their lives and destiny wherever possible. Our Sixth Principle is Excellence: PEMH sees itself as a centre of excellence and innovation, capable of piloting exciting new paths and breaking down old barriers in the sector.
Each of GlobalGiving’s nonprofit partners is required to send quarterly donor reports detailing the impact of their work. Here are some of their recent updates:
By Merle Favis | Project Leader
Dear GlobalGiving We had sent this report in December to all the contributors.But for your information, please see below.regardsMerleDear Contributors to PEMH School Covid Project,The first... Read the full report ›