Most of us are concerned with maintaining a healthy body, but let's face it, we probably don't pay nearly as much attention to ensuring our mental health is at its optimum. Good mental health means our emotions, perception, memory and thoughts are all functioning as they should. It also means we are managing our stress and confronting our fears and anxieties.
But what do we do when our children, sibling or relatives have a mental health condition which means they will need to be supervised at all times and, provided with nursing and other care facilities?
The Oasis Association for the Mentally Handicapped was founded on 24 January 1952, by a few South African parents who wanted to provide facilities for children with mental handicap, and who were thus excluded from mainstream schools. Today, parents are still involved as volunteers. They help with the management of the organization and assist with fundraising, office tasks, etc..
People with mental handicap have significantly sub-average intellectual functioning that is accompanied by significant limitations in adaptive functioning in at least two of the following skill areas: communication, self-care, home living, social and interpersonal skills, use of community resources, self direction, functional academic skills, work leisure, health and safety.
Children and adults with mental handicap deserve equal human rights, but do have some special needs. These needs include; protection from hazards and exploitation; differing degrees of supervision and assistance; advocacy, etc..
Oasis centres are funded by subsidies, grants, workshops production income, public support and fund-raising. Provision of services is costly, especially due to the high supervisory ratio that is required. Staffing absorbs by far the majority of funds, with the provision of transport of all Oasis facilities also accounting for substantial costs. In order to fund these services, the ongoing financial support of individuals and businesses is essential.
OASIS MISSION STATEMENT
To enable persons with mental handicap to realise their fullest potential at each stage of their development, and thereby to become as independent and productive as possible within community.
Management
The Association's executive is a Management Committee, elected by an open membership. This committee and Oasis sub-committees include parents, professionals, community members and business people.
The organization relies so much on volunteers. They serve on committees, provide assistance with fundraising and office tasks, assist with other activities such as sport tournaments and music concerts. Volunteers have also provided their skills and expertise with staff training, advice and counselling, legal advice, marketing and publicity, computer skills, industrial relations and human resources, fundraising assistance, vehicles and buildings. Many more volunteers are still needed to sustain the strides already achieved.
Oasis has a centre for adults, who have a moderate mental condition, do not qualify for employment in the open labour market or sheltered employment, but capable of caring for their personal needs without supervision and motivated to work and able to learn work skills. The work activities includes handicraft, woodwork, contract work and recycling. This workshop has recreational and social facilities for up to 330 people, in a protected and supervised environment.
The association has also another centre for adults who do not need nursing care. It encourages them (the facilities are for over 15 people) to be independent, take part in recreational and sporting activities and take up individual hobbies and other interests.
Residential contact address:
Director,
Oasis Association for the Mentall Handicapped 33 Lee Road,
Claremont
7735 Cape Town, South Africa
Postal address
Oasis Association for the Mentally Handicapped Private Bag X 23, Claremont
7735 Cape Town South Africa.
Tel: 027-21-612698
027-21-612419
027-21-619765
Fax:027-21-683-5011
AFRICANEWS