University of Mauritius

Report on Study Visit

Submitted by
Miss Satee Ansuya GOOLY
1318043
Diploma/BSc (Hons) Social Work- Part Time
SH410
A Report on Study Visit

Study Visit
The Study visit was carried on 05 June 2014 to Social Service Organisations to
familiarise the students with the social service institutions in Mauritius.
Introduction
The purpose of the visit was to develop knowledge and skills in the practice of social
work methods and to create understanding of theories about human development.
Also to produce social work practitioners who are accountable, reflective and
function in a self-critical manner, sensitive to cultural diversity and impact of
injustice and inequality on individuals
The selected organisations were namely:

Le Fondation Georges Charles at Pointe aux Sables.

Dr Idrice Goomany Centre at Port Louis

Description of the Institution visited

Le Fondation Georges Charles
Founded in 1976 at Pointe-aux-Sables, Georges Charles Foundation a nongovernmental organization (NGO), which operates as a day-care centre, and
specialized

school

for

children

with

intellectual

impairment

or

physically

handicapped children and caters for the welfare of mentally retarded persons
The centres objectives is: La rehabilitation, la formation et la reinsertion
sociale des enfants, des ados, et des jeunes adultes porteurs dun
handicap.
Objectives of the centre:
1. To teach the child to care for his daily physical needs.
2. To teach the child to live with other children.
3. To develop the childs capacity to the fullest so that he may more adequately
carry on activities in his limited environment.
4. To teach the child to play and be happy.
5. Enlarge a childs knowledge, experience and imaginative understanding.
6. Awareness of moral values and capacity for enjoyment
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7. Enter the world after formal education is over as an active participant in
society and a responsible contributor to it.
8. Capable of achieving as much independence as possible
Report of the experience

On 05 July 2014 at 10.30 visiting the Fondation Georges Charles was a good way to
learn the effectiveness of the centres practices. It has currently, 92 mentally
impaired children and young adults aged 4 to 32 yrs. Mr Jac Falzara the Director
warmly welcomed us, accompanied by Ms Nishta and Mr Ved both occupational
therapist at the centre, and Mrs Delphine instructor.
Through a guided visit by Ms Nishta helped us discover more about the centre
consisting of a pre-primary unit, a fully registered specialized school, a specialized
unit for Les Autistes, an art & crafts Academy, a woodcraft workshop, a needle
craft workshop (mainly for girls), a book binding workshop. Most of the students
were at the Rose-Hill stadium for sports day and the remaining few were busy
enjoying in the Zumba class in the yard which hindered our conversation with them.
All the children attending the Georges-Charles Foundation, says the therapist, come
from very low-income families, which cannot afford to send them to school. Most of
them, however, have attended primary school and know how to read and write.
Operating as a day-care centre, the Georges-Charles foundation manages to
welcome the children and provide them with various courses and training
depending on their interests in subjects like agriculture, farming, sewing and craft.
The centre not only dealt with children with mental impairment but also those
suffering from autism. The therapist Ms Nishta explained a bit about autism, which
is a mental disorder originating in infancy that is characterized by absorption in self
centered subjective mental activity especially when accompanied by marked
withdrawal from reality, inability to interact socially and avoided eye contact.
It is clearly understood through the visit that the centre is in line with its objectives.
Mrs Nadine explained that the centre had no specific cleaner, hence cleaning and
maintenance of the centre relied entirely on them. Children were initiated in
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Study Visit
cleaning of toilets, yards, classrooms under the supervision. But one thing should to
be pondered is that besides making the children independent was it necessary that
these kids do the cleaning of the centre themselves. This is what made me ponder
for very long time. I totally agree that they should be completely independent in self
care but the fact that they perform the job of cleaners couldnt be digested by me. If
I had someone in the centre would I appreciate that they are indulge personally in
cleaning toilets and yard? Instructors believe that children make substantial gains in
self-help skills.
Recommendations
However, being a social worker, our aim is to make the child socially accepted,
enable him to be in the home with the rest of the family and get along well. From
what I have gathered through the instructors, parents are not fully involved in the
centre. The centre is playing the role of baby sitter during the day. The classrooms
as per my observation seems a bit too small to accommodate 15 to 20 students as
highlighted

by the instructor, as these children are not normal and not used in

confined areas and they need to have more space.

A social workers contribution will be required to ensure that no material aspect of
the childs background is overlooked. Parents should be fully involved and enable
them to contribute to childs assessment. Family circumstances as a whole must be
taken into account for consideration of childs needs, including the investigation of
any aspect of a childs performance that is causing concern. From what I have
observed and noted, the children considers one day absence as a form of great
punishment. That is the less the stay at home the best it is for them. This clearly
indicates that there is a problem at home which should be taken care of and which
is being disregarded may be due to lack of personnels. Keeping a seriously
handicapped child in his own home seriously handicap the freedom, productivity
and mental health of the normal health of normal members of the family. Parents
should be fully involved in the centre and its activities like PTA meetings, active
participation

in

group

discussions

as

and

when

required

development of the child, creating a user friendly environment.

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for

growth

and

Study Visit
Each child should have a personal folder containing details of a childs special needs
and follow up action taken to meet them. It should be kept in strict confidentiality as
it contains relevant information and childs social background or family relationships
and medical information. Educating a severely handicap child help to maintain the
effectiveness, stability and cohesion of the family unit. As a social worker I believe
that it is good that a child with a disability should be able to attend the same school
as his brother or sister. Thus creating an opportunity for children in ordinary classes
to be aware of children with special needs, which is completely in contradiction to
the centre where there are only mentally impaired children.
Area health authorities should seek to ensure that all pediatricians and other
hospitals consultants send copy letters about these needy children to social
workers, as the instructors informed that there are children who are confined in
their houses for several years. For example the instructor informed the case of a 19
yr old girl who remained in her only for all those years. The education service should
be informed about children with special needs as son as possible. If early
educational opportunities are to be provided for them and also the social services
department must be informed of its support is to be provided for the family. The
education service is clearly well placed to identify signs of special need among
children in nursery.
Even the teaching staff at the centre must have a follow up with a social worker.
From what I gathered, the instructor has been working with the institution since 22
yrs and she is showing signs to be affected with the job. Hence a follow up with a
social worker along with a psychologist is a must as working with these children as
requires great dedication. The teacher while speaking to us got very emotional and
started crying showing signs to be weakened with time. A follow up from time to
time or getting involved in workshop or seminars would be very beneficial. The lack
of contacts with social workers is particularly striking.
Dr Idrice Goomany Centre
The Dr Idrice Goomany Treatment Centre for Prevention & Treatment of Alcoholism
& Drug Addiction is a grass root NGO which came into operation in 1986 to reduce
the incidence and prevalence of drug use in Mauritius through prevention,
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Study Visit
treatment and rehabilitation sessions. Over the years, the institution has helped
around 6500 clients and their families in providing medical detoxification and
counseling.
The outpatient Centre offers a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of
addicts. The services are an outpatient 10-week medical detoxification programme,
individual, family and group counseling and follow up activities. It is composed of an
out of school youth prevention programme for high risks adolescents (TEEN HOPE).
The

TEEN

HOPE

programme

has

been

real

success

story

due

to

its

multidisciplinary approach based on non-formal education, life skills development

and sound and healthy alternatives to drug use and abuse.

It has its mission A drug free Mauritian society and to reduce the incidence and
prevalence of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS in Mauritius as its vision.
Objectives

To provide primary prevention intervention against licit, illicit

sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS

To provide out-patient medical detoxification treatment to heroin addicts and

alcoholics
To promote the social reintegration of recovering addicts and alcoholics.
To provide harm minimization services to out of treatment heroin addicts like

drugs and

needle exchange program

Report of the experience

On 05 July 2014 at 13.30 Upon arrival at the Centre we were welcomed by Mr

Samad, animator of the Centre and in the lecture hall, he introduced us by a power
point presentation explaining the Centres mission, vision, objectives and services
provided to a client such as court mandated cases (as per Dangerous Drug Act),
intravenous drug user, ex- detainees, commercial sex workers, youth, people
having different sexual orientation.

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We had no guided physical visit and we had only an overview of how the Centre
operates in day to day activities. We had not a chance of visiting or seeing people
undergoing medical treatment, counseling for reintegration in the society and
rehabilitation process for unspecified reasons. Only a pamphlet was handed over to
each student for ease reference in the lecture hall. We also had brief visit at the
Centre library annexed the lecture hall just to get an idea of presence of a
documentation unit.
Recommendation
The NGOs need to have more means to fight drugs. Treatment and rehab should be
revisited. I would even suggest a coordinating body to supervise all action
concerning drug-abuse we need to put into practice all the recommendations of the
national drug control master plan. We should not think that drug addiction is merely
the lot of the so called minority segment of the population. It is clear that there is
much still to be done to ensure that young people get appropriate help for
substance misuse problems.
Drug addicts should not be blamed and their addiction is but a symptom of a deeper
malaise. One must not think that we are immune from it because of our background
or creed. Drug addiction is a complex problem. A complex problem entails a
multidisciplinary response with the participation of all the components of society
coupled with a strong political will. And harsh punishment should be part and parcel
of any approach. Balancing therapeutic work with individuals with investment in
community. Aim should be to reach drug abusers who are not in treatment.
Conclusion
As a professional social worker, working in the mentally retarded and drug
rehabilitation centre can be especially fulfilling in terms of helping people overcome
adversity even though emotionally draining. It demands objectivity, emotional
maturity, personal responsibility and most importantly sensitivity to people and
their problem gaining maximum benefit from the tour.

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