“Wednesday Club” is a two-hour programme for children with disabilities (CWD) and their caregivers, held once a week. While CWD work on physical exercises and socio-emotional skills, caregivers gather in their own group for various discussion topics.
Ainar* is a seven-year-old girl diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She and her mother attend almost every week.
Ainar’s condition affects her muscle development, movement, speech, and cognitive understanding. Through activities in our programme—both group and one-on-one sessions—as well as practices at home, Ainar has shown clear improvement in her physical development and overall learning. Where she was once unable to sit on the floor without support, she can now sit upright independently during group time. She is also showing improved balance while sitting and walking with assistance. In addition, she has become more curious, more engaging, and makes more eye contact. Recently, she loves to play “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” She now takes the initiative to hold an adult’s hand to ask for high fives and responds to her peers’ high fives too!
Ainar’s mother is raising three children, two of whom are diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She attends the programme week after week. While Ainar joins the children’s group, her mother participates in the parents’ group discussions. For her, this is a safe space to share life’s struggles openly. When we first launched Wednesday Club in May, Ainar’s mother attended but looked troubled and sad. As our team built a trusting relationship with her, she felt safe enough to share the heavy burdens she carries. Her newborn child has heart problems and was recently diagnosed with cerebral palsy as well. Since her husband struggles to accept that both of their youngest children have special needs, he refuses to go out of the house with them. His family continues to blame Ainar’s mother, saying it is her fault. Despite facing blame and rejection, she still clings to hope.
A few weeks into the programme, she began to look lighter, with more smiles on her face each time she came. Week after week, she returns to our caregivers’ group because she has found something precious—a place where she belongs among other mothers of special children. A place where she feels seen, heard, and supported with love and without judgment.
Ainar’s mother’s story reflects the reality of the shame and burdens many mothers of children with disabilities carry daily. Within a safe and trusted space, mothers can open up about hardship while our team comes alongside CWD and their caregivers. Looking ahead, we hope to start a focus group with Ainar’s mother to strengthen her spiritual growth. She welcomed the idea and even considered inviting other mothers to join her in finding hope.
