💞 There is ability in disability 💞

THE FAMILY  

While in Balaka District, I had the opportunity to conduct an evaluation and intervention in collaboration with local authorities. We visited a family living in a hard-to-reach rural community. The family has three children with profound mental disabilities and, until now, have never received any form of support. Since the birth of their first child, they have faced heavy discrimination from the community, and no relatives have been willing or able to help. 


I met the family three times. My recent studies, previous degrees, and professional experience proved invaluable in this situation. Together, we were able to raise the parents’ awareness about disability - especially mental disabilities - and provide much-needed psychosocial support. The family lives far from basic services: the nearest health centre is about 15 km away, and the district hospital is around 30 km - both out of reach for them without reliable transport. 

 

FIELD WORK 

In an effort to support the family further, I reached out to several Finnish and Malawian organizations - both public and private - to understand the frameworks and responsibilities of institutions working in disability and social welfare. However, I quickly discovered how difficult it is to access accurate, up-to-date information. Even many locals were not aware of some of the organizations operating in their own districts. 

 

I had to rely heavily on online searches and walking around town to discover offices and ongoing projects. Despite the challenges, we eventually built a skilled support network around the family - a safety net tailored to their needs. 

 

POWER IN HEART AND HANDS 

Interestingly, many government and project workers I met had no knowledge of each other’s existence or the work being done in the same district. I realized that while countless projects are active - particularly in food security, self-reliance, and wellbeing - they often operate in silos. Some were inactive, while others were only working in areas far from where this family lived. 

 

It became clear that many organizations - even those under the same government structures - are not functioning together in the coordinated way one would expect. This fragmentation reduces the effectiveness and impact of their work. That is why, when funding and implementing projects, co-creation with local communities is essential. Planning, implementing, operating, monitoring, and evaluating together leads to stronger outcomes and real, lasting change. 

 

By the end of June, we had completed a thorough service needs assessment in collaboration with the family and our local partners. I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to this process - and to gain insight into the cultural and structural realities of working in this environment. 


FAMILY SUPPORT OUTCOMES 


The following was achieved in partnership with the family and local stakeholders: 
  • A full assessment of the family’s needs was conducted.  
  • The family was registered with relevant institutions and connected to social protection support.  
  • Psychosocial support and evidence-based information about mental disabilities were provided to the parents. 
  • A local support network was established to promote the family’s wellbeing and food security. 


NETWORKING  

Here are some of the organizations I collaborated with. I highly recommend exploring their websites to learn more about the incredible work they are doing: 


With love, 

Tanja 


PS. All information and photos shared with the permission of the family and the social field workers involved in this project. 

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HASHTAGS 

#karelia_sote_johtajaksi #mangolo2022 #Malawi #InBalaka #SocialWelfare #SocialCareAndDisability #AbilityInDisability 


 


Location: Balaka, Malawi

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