Psychosocial Support (PSS)
Psychosocial Support
Psychosocial Support (PSS) refers to activities or interventions directed at supporting children and caregivers deal with emotional, psychological, social and behavioural problems. Despite providing OVC with services such as educational support, nutrition and medical assistance there is need to support OVC who are grieving, traumatised, experiencing stigma and discrimination or who are being abused. MOC wrap-around and continuum care services helps in moulding socially adjusted, self-sustaining, health and responsible citizens. PSS strategies being employed by MOC are:
- building community capacity to recognise and respond to psychosocial distress
- memory work
- therapeutic activities (music and dance, art, speak out sessions, role plays, poetry, quiz, storytelling)
- life-skills’ support (parenting skills, boosting self-confidence, assertiveness and cognitive skills)
- community-based camps and excursions
Counselling Programme
Counselling sessions are held with children and caregivers presenting with numerous life challenges to help them adjust and cope with their diverse situations. Sessions reveal deep seated anger, hate and fear among children.
Community Based Camps
The objective of the camps is to encourage children to work together and support each other during difficult times, to foster a spirit of cooperation among peers, as well as to cultivate a sense of belonging among the children. The main features of the camps are games, sports and storytelling.
Talk Time
Talk Time sessions are open discussion fora where children are encouraged to create an atmosphere of openness in whatever they are doing.
Home Visits
Social workers and community volunteers (Shamwari Dzedu) conduct routine visits to children and their families.The purpose of the visits is to identify successes and challenges encountered by children to inform tailor-made support to them.