Gele, Dance & Tears: The Day We Helped Mothers Breathe Again
On March 17, 2026, the Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation successfully conducted an outreach program in Ebonyi State under its Support for Caregivers Initiative (SCGI). This initiative focuses on safeguarding the mental health and well-being of caregivers, particularly parents supporting children with special needs.
The session, led by Mrs. Rosemary Idika, Ebonyi State Programs Manager, primarily attended by mothers, provided a compassionate and supportive environment for parents to share their experiences openly.
Participants highlighted several ongoing challenges, including:
The high financial burden of specialized diets, medications, and physiotherapy (with recent cost increases exacerbating the strain).
Frequent societal reminders and unsolicited comments from passersby or other parents—often intended as concern but perceived as judgmental—highlighting differences such as a child's inability to walk independently despite their age.
Exclusion and inadequate accommodations in mainstream schools due to the lack of dedicated special-needs facilities, limiting access to appropriate education and care.
Emotional discouragement from limited medical information, often indicating no definitive cure, leading many to rely on faith and hope for improvement.
The exhausting reality of investing maximum effort with minimal visible progress, compounded by occasional misdiagnoses and referrals between healthcare providers.
The program featured encouraging talks emphasizing resilience, patience, and the recognition that every human being faces unique challenges. Parents were reminded that they are specially entrusted as caregivers, urged to avoid frustration-driven mistreatment of their children, and encouraged to seek care at reputable hospitals rather than unverified sources such as shrines. Participants also shared positive experiences, including unexpected acts of kindness and favor attributed to their children's presence in their lives.
To foster relaxation and joy, the session included a lively dance activity, refreshments, free counseling sessions, and skill-building workshops—such as tying gele (traditional headgear) for women and knotting men’s ties—to promote self-care, productivity, and unwinding.
Parents expressed deep appreciation for the safe space to vent, feel heard, and connect with others facing similar realities. They received ongoing support through a dedicated caregivers' group and access to free counseling resources.
Additional benefits of the Support for Caregivers Initiative include:
Reducing feelings of isolation and fostering a strong sense of community and belonging.
Providing emotional validation, peer encouragement, and shared coping strategies to build resilience.
Offering practical advice on navigating challenges, accessing resources, and managing compassion fatigue or burnout.
Enhancing self-esteem, confidence, and overall mental well-being through mutual support and empowerment.
Strengthening family dynamics by equipping caregivers with tools for better emotional regulation and patient caregiving.
Promoting long-term resilience, hope, and advocacy skills to navigate societal stigma and systemic barriers.
To partner with us in making essential medications, physiotherapy, and other supports more accessible—or to contribute to sustaining these vital programs—please visit “donate” on our website at www.copeandlive.foundation to donate generously.
Your support helps ensure these parents/caregivers receive the care they deserve, enabling them to continue providing love and strength to their children. Together, we build more compassionate, resilient communities.
If things are getting out of hand, please call us on +234 814 831 8965 or send us an Email at: info@copeandlive.foundation for tailored guidance.