Include Us - Zimbabwe Deaf people and Families.

Parents of children with developmental delays find it difficult to meet the needs of their children, especially when they lack access to the necessary knowledge and resources. Oftentimes, these parents suffer in silence, feeling overwhelmed and lacking the knowledge to support their child's growth. Societal stigma can also lead them to hide their child away, depriving the child of opportunities to reach their full potential. Recognizing this gap, Nzeve strives to involve these parents, together with speech therapists and occupational therapists, on a journey to help these children unlock their true capabilities.

 Through a series of meetings and comprehensive parent-child training programs, Nzeve's Parenting Pathway group supports parents of children with developmental delays under the age of 7 in reaching their full potential. The parent-child pairing sessions provide a platform for parents to meet with the occupational and speech therapists, and they work together to be given ideas on how to care for the child.

 As usual Nzeve conducted yet another session in May. This time the session brought together 40 parents, a speech therapist, and an occupational therapist. During these session, the speech therapist first assessed the children's motor skills and communication capabilities. The therapist then worked collaboratively with the parents, equipping them with various methods to use back home to help their children develop speech and other skills. These methods included encouraging parents to read aloud with their children, which can stimulate language development and foster bonding while the child imitates the parent. The occupational therapist also introduced homemade assistive devices like parallel bars to aid in standing and walking, providing the children with much-needed physical support and opportunities to strengthen their motor skills. These sessions provided parents with invaluable guidance, empowering them with the knowledge and practical skills to best support their children's growth and development.

 The impact of Nzeve's initiatives is evident through numerous success stories that highlight the transformative effects of empowering these parents with knowledge and practical skills to help their children. One parent who attended the parent-child session said, "I have acquired the knowledge to help my child gain her speech back. I used to hide her and was ashamed to seek help until I met the people from Nzeve, and they told me to bring my child for these sessions."

 Another parent shared," Now I am able to help my child in his walking journey."

 The unwavering support from donors has been instrumental in the success of Nzeve's initiatives. As Nzeve looks to the future, the organization remains committed to expanding its programs and reaching more families in need.