Occupational therapy is a mode of intervention/treatment to help people maintain or build their physical and psychological self with the aim of promotion of independence. Occupational therapists provide patients with the skills they require to better support their daily lives and their occupation.

Volunteers will work in hospitals, elderly homes, rehabilitation centres or special needs schools with children or adults.

Many patients will have some of the following conditions: Autism, ADHD, downs syndrome, cerebral palsy and schizophrenia. Also, many patients you will work with may have experienced a hand injury, stroke, post burn complications, spinal injury etc.

As a physical therapist volunteer you will be working alongside local physical therapists in a variety of special needs, care homes and clinics.

Volunteers will take part in the following:

• Assist patients unable to complete tasks/activities independently
• Help patients improve in their motor skills or hand eye coordination
• Assist elderly patients with mobility
• Assist in schools, helping children to develop skills such as handwriting
• Help patients suffering from mental health illnesses, manage their illness
• Helping patients who have been injured to determine what they might need in future to be able to perform daily tasks
• Assist patients who have experienced changes in physical or mental abilities adapt and return to work.

(This programme is located in Nairobi.)