Cerebral Palsy Association benefits from German Small Grant Funding ?

The Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mrs Karolin Troubetzkoy, recently visited the Sure Start Pre-School in Sans Souci to view first-hand some of the equipment purchased for The Cerebral Palsy Association of Saint Lucia. This funding was made available through a Small Grants Scheme by the German Embassy located in Trinidad. The Sure Start Pre School received some sensory padded rainbow floor mats, a mono trampoline and a ball pit.

Additional equipment which was purchased through this grant, such as mats, platform swing, infant adaptation kit, vibraflex massager, sensory rockers and more will be used at the new Northern Centre for the Multi Disabled, under the administration of the Dunnator School, set to open in September 2015.

The Cerebral Palsy Association (CPA) was formed to assist and advocate for people affected by cerebral palsy and to provide information to the public about this life-long condition. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the motor control centre of the brain and as a result affects control of muscles. The brain damage that leads to cerebral palsy can happen before birth, during birth, within a month after birth, or during the first years of a child’s life, while the brain is still developing.

When cerebral palsy is related to genetics, it is not preventable and in many cases, the cause or causes of congenital cerebral palsy aren’t fully known. Cerebral palsy can also be caused by lack of oxygen during the birth process or by infection or injury affecting the mother during the pregnancy or the infant after birth. There are actions people can take before and during a pregnancy, as well as after birth that might help reduce the risk of developmental problems, including cerebral palsy.

There can be a level of normalcy for children affected by cerebral palsy with early recognition of this condition and with the right therapy and intervention.

The Cerebral Palsy Association was registered with the Ministry of Social Transformation in May 2012. The Association currently has a membership of 45 children of ages 1 year to 24 years. For more information about the Cerebral Palsy Association, visit http://cpastlucia.org or email info@cpastlucia.org

The Small Grants Scheme of the German Embassy – as part of the technical cooperation between the Federal Republic of Germany and partner countries – was first introduced in 1980 to give German missions abroad the ability to assist communities which require small amounts of financial aid in initiating “hands-on” projects that assist in improving the social and economic situation. Eligible groups can be governmental or non-governmental organizations, cooperatives or associations, etc. The recipient partner has to actively contribute either by providing labour, training facilities and/or trainers. For more information, visithttp://www.port-of-spain.diplo.de