Hart House Gambia
Since the sad death of Hart House Founder, Geoff, we are continuing to support the HartHouse kids. Unfortunately they are unable to access the purpose built facility at Hart House, so we continue trips with the kids to keep them together as a group and a supported community. Omar, who worked with Geoff, leads weekly trips. The kids go to the beach, or to a soft play, sometimes to a swimming pool , or trip to meet local animals. We try to keep the trips varied and continue occupational therapy through physical and mental support work. Some of the kids are learning sign language to better communicate, some are now able to eat unassisted for the first time ever. In the long run we hope the Hart House kids may be able to get back to Hart House, which is tied up in legal wrangling, but for now we continue to support them with the trips and a good lunch. We hope you will support too if you can! If you’d like to donate to keep the Hart House kids together and supported please donate – https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/HartHousekidsGambia Thanks so much, from us at The Joss Stone Foundation and from the Hart House kids in Gambia.
Joss visited Hart House in The Gambia in 2017. Hart House serves the local community with special support for disabled children and their families. They provide respite care Monday – Friday for up to 25 families and children. This includes transport and all food, education and health needs. This helps with child development as well as supporting all the families involved. Joss wanted the mother’s of the children to have a safe space to meet and talk as there is considerable stigma around disabilities in Gambia unfortunately and supporting all of the family as a whole is the best way Hart House can help.
The women’s groups were funded by The Joss Stone Foundation and commenced in February 2019. Transport , refreshments and child care are all provided so the mothers can talk together in their group. Due to covid the group had to be paused but is back on track to reopen July 2021. The group will soon be registered as a ‘self help’ organisation by one of the committee members who is keen to keep this initiative growing and helping. There are up to 25 women in the group and this may grow in time.
Hart House priorities moving forward include providing all care possible for these families in a safe, happy and healthy environment. Donations from the Joss Stone foundation have enabled Hart House to continue all of it’s work, run the women’s groups and provided extra funds to cover things like physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, preventative medicines and paediatrician checks for the children.
The foundation has also paid for the roof of the building to be replaced, paid staff wages and provided micro loans within the local community.
Hart HOuse Aims
- To provide residential short-term respite care for Gambian children with learning difficulties.
- To assess the developmental level of the children and to encourage them to reach their full potential by offering a varied and stimulating programme of activities.
- To give hard pressed Gambian families a break from caring and to give feedback where appropriate.
- To exchange information with other organisations and institutions in The Gambia who are also engaged in activities of a similar nature.
- To stimulate local and national awareness of children with learning difficulties by involving the local Gambian community, including local children, within the activities of the home.
If you’d like to find out more or get involved please go to – harthouse.net
