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Familias Especiales Santa Julia Billiart

www.familiasespeciales.org

Matagalpa, Nicaragua

Foundacion Familias Especiales de Santa Julia Billiart (FE) of the Dioceses of Matagalpa Nicaragua is a non-governmental non-profit agencySpecial Families has developed programs organically over the years by helping the mothers recognizing and articulate their own needs. founded in 1996 with its legal juridical in 2001. It began with an invitation by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Matagalpa to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur to try to give support to families who have children with disabilities. Sister Rebecca, a sister of Notre Dame, invited Marlene Hernandez to walk with her through the barrios of Matagalpa. Then they organized an extensive census involving more than 300 high school students and 6 social agencies going door to door to identify families with children with disabilities. The idea was to strengthen these families and connect them to others within the society to continue to support their special needs.

Special Families has developed programs organically over the years by helping the mothers recognizing and articulate their own needs. More than 1,200 families who represent some of the poorest in our society with the majority being single mothers, have found ways to join together. The mothers of Special Families now work with professionals to meet the following goals:
1. To help families attain the basic needs and services to help their handicapped children in the areas of health, education, employment, social, spiritual, etc.
2. To help mothers work together to support each other in different groups and programs.
Programs offered by Familias Especiales include a special education center; a handicapped accessible children’s park; a yogurt and cheese factory; a café and art store; a sign and printing company; a paper recycling program; a mental health program; a chicken farm; a wheel chair workshop; neighborhood outreach and development programs; women empowerment programs; domestic violence intervention and prevention programs; and a variety of clubs, commissions, and other associations for the handicapped. 3. To sensitize the wider community to the abilities and needs of the handicapped and their families.
Programs offered by Familias Especiales include a special education center; a handicapped accessible children’s park; a yogurt and cheese factory; a café and art store; a sign and printing company; a paper recycling program; a mental health program; a chicken farm; a wheel chair workshop; neighborhood outreach and development programs; women empowerment programs; domestic violence intervention and prevention programs; and a variety of clubs, commissions, and other associations for the handicapped.

WNWP is able to assist Familias Especiales by providing necessary material support to its various programs. The Wisconsin/Nicaragua Wheelchair Project works hand-in-hand WNWP works hand-in-hand with Familias Especiales in the creation of the wheelchair workshop in Matagalpa, and continues to supply the workshop with wheelchairs, tools, equipment and spare parts, and other mobility devices such as canes, walkers and crutches.with Familias Especiales in the creation of the wheelchair workshop in Matagalpa, and continues to supply the workshop with wheelchairs, tools, equipment and spare parts, and other mobility devices such as canes, walkers and crutches. WNWP ships on average 2 40 foot containers of supplies and equipment to Familias Especiales each year. Our material aid includes clothing, school supplies, basic medical supplies, household supplies, toys and stuffed animals and physical therapy equipment.


 
   
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