Home & Care for Children with CP in Nigeria

Dear Valued Partner,

Summary

SECHILD Center remains steadfast in its commitment to providing a loving and supportive HOME for children in Nigeria living with Cerebral Palsy (CP), who have often experienced abandonment, neglect, and the devastating effects of malnutrition. For the past 12 years, we have been a beacon of hope, offering comprehensive CARE, nutritious FOOD, essential CLOTHING, enriching RECREATION, and vital PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT to children with CP from the most vulnerable backgrounds. To date, over 50 children have thrived under our care, receiving individualized rehabilitation, unwavering love, access to EDUCATION, and empowering support, enabling them to experience happier childhoods and envision brighter futures. Many of these children are now integrated into mainstream or specialized schools. With your ongoing partnership, we can extend our embrace to even more children, offering them a sanctuary of acceptance, profound love, and specialized care, helping them unlock their full potential and achieve their dreams.

Challenge

The harsh reality for children with Cerebral Palsy in Nigeria continues to be marked by profound discrimination, heartbreaking neglect, and a critical lack of specialized care, leaving them marginalized and exceptionally vulnerable. The number of children facing abandonment, the insidious grip of malnutrition, and the crushing weight of poverty unfortunately shows no signs of abating. These deeply entrenched systemic issues, exacerbated by limited access to inclusive education and essential therapies, demand immediate and sustained intervention. Tragically, many children with CP endure various forms of abuse and navigate an exceptionally challenging existence in Nigeria. Neglect and the absence of consistent care remain pervasive threats, exposing them to daily harm and hindering their development.

Solution

At SECHILD Center, we cultivate a nurturing and inclusive environment where children with Cerebral Palsy can find safety, love, and comprehensive holistic support. Currently, our family has grown to 25 children, each receiving individualized physical, emotional, and cognitive care tailored to their unique needs. We also recognize the crucial role of families and provide essential support to parents and caregivers, including access to nutritious food, adequate clothing, educational resources, and vital psychosocial support. Our unwavering commitment to upholding the fundamental rights and overall well-being of these children underpins every aspect of our work, as we tirelessly strive to pave the way for a brighter and more inclusive future for them.

Long-Term Impact

For well over a decade, SECHILD Center's unwavering dedication has provided a sanctuary of shelter, a place to call home, consistent care, and empowering support to over 65 children living with Cerebral Palsy (CP). We offer crucial services such as specialized psychosocial support, access to tailored education, and vital therapeutic interventions to actively combat the pervasive discrimination and significantly reduce the incidence of abandonment faced by these children. Recognizing the indispensable role of family in a child's life, we extend our support to their caregivers, aiming to foster a nurturing ecosystem where children with CP can not only survive but truly flourish and reach their maximum potential.

Key Activities and Achievements

1. Expanded Care and Nurturing Environment:
   • Continued to provide comprehensive, 24/7 care to 25 children with Cerebral Palsy, ensuring they receive well-balanced nutritious meals, appropriate clothing, access to necessary medical attention, and consistent emotional support from our dedicated team.
   • Welcomed 3 new children into our loving care during the last quarter, providing them with a safe and supportive home.
   • Further enhanced our caregiver-to-child ratio by employing two additional compassionate caregivers, allowing for more individualized attention and support for each child.
2. Progressive Rehabilitation and Therapy:
   • Facilitated consistent and tailored physiotherapy and occupational therapy sessions for all the children, directly contributing to noticeable improvements in their motor skills, mobility, and overall physical well-being.
   • Celebrated the remarkable progress of David, an 8-year-old boy who, through dedicated therapy since his admission in mid-2023, has achieved greater independence in his daily activities.
3. Strengthened Parental and Caregiver Support:
   • Conducted regular psychosocial support group sessions for 18 parents and caregivers, providing them with a vital network of peer support, valuable information, and effective coping strategies to better navigate the challenges of raising a child with CP.
   • Expanded our outreach to provide essential therapeutic services, including speech therapy and counseling, to families within our network who are facing significant challenges.

Challenges Faced

• Sustaining Financial Stability: The continuously rising costs associated with specialized medical care, intensive rehabilitation programs, and the daily operational needs of a growing center remain a significant and ongoing challenge.
• Meeting Increasing Needs: The growing number of vulnerable children with CP requiring our specialized care increasingly strains our current resources and capacity.
• Combating Persistent Stigma and Discrimination: The deeply ingrained societal stigma and discriminatory attitudes towards children with CP continue to impede our efforts to fully integrate them into the wider community and access essential resources.

Your unwavering support remains the very foundation of our achievements and our ability to continue this vital work. With your compassionate help, we can extend our reach to even more children in need, further enhance the quality of life for those in our care, and bring renewed hope to countless families facing similar challenges. Together, we are not simply supporting a cause; we are actively building a community grounded in compassion, fostering transformative change, and creating brighter futures.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for believing in our mission and for being an indispensable part of the SECHILD journey.

With profound gratitude,

The SECHILD Team