At last, fieldwork has started! With the help of a local day-care centre for disabled children named Kuti’s, I have been able to track down a group of interested mothers of disabled children in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. As expected, our first group session is a nervous and uneasy one. We all don’t know each other, and as for the mothers, they don’t even know what to expect. So our first session is about the introduction of the project and about getting to know each other. With some creative exercises we introduce ourselves to each other and learn some hilarious details about each other which definitely breaks the ice. The fact that I, as a 32-year old researcher, do not have any children, is cause for confusion, laughter and questions. I discuss this openly and this gives way for others to share their personal story as well.
They seem interested in the project, particularly the fact that ‘taking action’ will be something they can do themselves, and even more so, they can decide on themselves. No one will tell them what they need to do, change or act upon. We will work as a group towards prioritizing needs and developing action plans that are embedded in THEIR daily realities. An exciting start!
They seem interested in the project, particularly the fact that ‘taking action’ will be something they can do themselves, and even more so, they can decide on themselves. No one will tell them what they need to do, change or act upon. We will work as a group towards prioritizing needs and developing action plans that are embedded in THEIR daily realities. An exciting start!
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