WOMEN living at Kerr House, a shelter for women in crisis, have been given skills which will enable them to better their future by an Australian ex-pat caregiver, Mitzi De Klerk.
Eight women at the house received certificates on Friday after completing a two-week caring course focusing on caring for elders and those with Alzheimer’s and Autism.
The course was run by benefactor of Kerr House, Mitzi, living in Perth, who for the past four years has helped raise funds for the shelter by hosting high teas and dances. Mitzi said a seed was planted she visited the Kerr House a couple of years ago needing to get involved by educating and uplifting the women, giving them employment opportunities. Not just passing on her knowledge she also handed over a cheque for R44 825 to Kerr House.
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Reflecting on her second certification course, “It’s been fabulous! Last year’s course was only one-week long, and this year I decided to spend more time and do an intense course with the women. I used a Massive Open Online Course which comes out of the University of Tasmania, and which should take about six weeks to complete. It was a beautiful thing seeing the women’s mindset shift on views regarding things they have been taught on the course such as Autism. It also helped three of the participants who are currently caring for people with Alzheimer’s to make a paradigm shift and for the participants to realise this is a terminal illness. It was a real eyeopener for them.”
Mitzi said she really appreciated the participants’ efforts.
“It was an honour for me to leave behind the skills I have taught, and I am pleased to say there is already an employment opportunity for one of the women. Besides employment opportunities, there has also been so much growth in the women, and I hope skills learnt such as effective communication, will be put into practice in their everyday lives.”
Mitzi hopes to be back in August next year for the next course, encouraging women to register. If anyone is interested in registering for next year’s course, they can contact 031 303 2912 (office hours) or 073 773 8035.
Anyone in the community who is looking for a trained and well equipped carer can contact the Kerr House directly.
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