TEAMWORK

Last week the vital work of forming a strong team for Play on Wheels began. By workshops and other activities the already identified staff members will be provided tools and knowledge to become a well educated, self-confident and well cooperating team. By these means they will be well prepared to take care of our adorable children, who deserve the best. Therefore we will work hard in the next coming weeks to achieve the goal of creating a team á la top notch.

To give the staff a visual idea of how Play on Wheels will operate we started off the course of training by visiting a centre for disabled children - Friend´s day centre.  Having operated for 53 years they have a long experience and have had time to build up an admirable facility, including a sensory room, outside pool area, a huge playground and a Jacuzzi for water therapy. The ambience and staff are wonderful. It is an ideal environment for children with disabilities to progress - and they do. I understand why the centre has become a role model for Play on Wheels. We could definitely learn a lot from them and especially receive a lot of INSPIRATION from them. Many ideas came to my mind during our visit. I realized how much you can actually do despite the fact that you are dump, blind, paralyzed or intellectual disabled. I also learnt that it is not only about stimulating the children with activities and physical objects to help them improve their health status. As one of the ladies working at the centre told me:  ”LOVE is what they need the most. Give them a lot of love and you will automatically notice what a huge difference that makes to these kids in terms of their progress”.  I will always remember that.

Getting to know each other as a team and building trust between the staff members also requires having a good time together. The week ended by a staff day at the ice skating rink. It was so much fun! None of the others had ever been ice skating before and they had to struggle to stand on their feet and not fall. ( And  to be honest, I wasn´t any better!) But they really put an effort into learning how to balance and make their way forward. They did not give up until the rink closed and they forced us to leave. Despite the struggling and falling they loved it and wanted to come back soon again to practice. That says a lot about this team. They are fighters who will never give up!