Project Report
| Aug 19, 2019
Child Centric Approach at Women's Aid Organisation
![Focusing on the Child's Needs at WAO]()
Focusing on the Child's Needs at WAO
We all dream of that perfect relationship we have with those we love since we are children. When a survivor finds herself in an abusive relationship, it often turns out to be one of the hardest things she would ever have to admit to herself, which is that someone she loves is capable of hurting her and her children. In most cases, the children of these survivors are really the driving force of why women say, "I have had enough", and walk away. Having said that, Children who come from abusive households, although resilient, endure the most conflicting challenges of dealing with conflict in the only way they know how to, fight or flight.
At Women's Aid Organisation, we acknowledge that our clients are not just the women who approach us with their needs. We acknowledge that the children that come along with them, the dependents are individuals and selves, and that they deserve intervention and social work which is catered to their needs, not just the needs of their mothers. It is only through holistic intervention of healing and providing for the family based on their individual needs, do the family truly begin that healing process.
Vanessa, a 15 year old girl found herself admitted into our shelter when her mother decided they needed help. Abuse was an anomaly in the family that Vanessa grew up in. Thats all she knew. Her biological father was abusive towards her mother, her mother's new husband was making sexual advances towards her, she then left home at 13 years old looking for her father whom she hoped would provide her the love and attention she needed, but he ended up leaving her with his extended family who then forced her to quit school and work in Bars where she would sit and drink with them. When Vanessa's mother who had been a victim of various failed and abusive relationships found out her child was not being cared for, she decided that was it and went looking for ways to get Vanessa out of the situation she was in. Together they approached WAO for assistance and have been in our shelter for months.
Their case was challenging as the biggest difficulties we faced was getting Vanessa back into the school system whilst ensuring she was able to cope. WAO decided that with the child's wit and thirst for education, that we would intervene and ensure she secured a place in school and attended remedial classes to ensure she would be able to catch up with the years of school she had missed. The journey was difficult, as usually when the mother of the child is ready to leave the shelter, we would encourage her to kickstart her journey of independence. But social workers had to be creative to look at this case from a Child protection aspect, and ensure the needs of Vanessa, even though a child and dependent of the main client, was put at the highest importance. With our relentless efforts to ensure Vanessa received the appropriate guidance and support, as well as with Vanessa's drive to make her life a better one through counseling sessions and family therapy sessions, Vanessa is all geared up to take an exam she never thought we would be remotely ready for, given the fact that she had missed formal school for almost 2 years.
The story of Vanessa and WAO's approach in managing cases based on each and everyone of our client's needs, shows the versatility of the social workers team and how every case that walks through our door is given the benefit that they are unique and each intervention is tailored towards their individual needs. It also highlights the importance WAO holds on ensuring clients themselves, are heavily involved in the decisions that revolves around their Healing plan and social work plan, and how it is only through this way, that we are able to ensure we provide the clients the best that we can offer. Your donations helps us reach out to not only the women who are in crisis, but most importantly to ensure the children that come along with the women are given equal importance and a say in how they want to be assisted.
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