CWAE Launches Support Group to help mums with children of determination

A support network has been developed in Dubai to enable mothers of children with special needs to communicate with one another and carve out time to attend to their own needs. The committed community was developed as a part of the 5000-member network Coffee with an Expat (CWAE), which offers a venue for women to interact, network, have in-depth talks, and share their expat life experiences.

The People of Determination (P.O.D.) Moms group, founded by CWAE Founder Navine Eldesouki and Lebanese expat Farah Sabbah, combines an educational workshop programme, motivational guest speakers, and casual coffee mornings to allow members and guests to learn, develop themselves, share their experiences, and find support among likeminded women.

“During one of our CWAE discussion meetings”, Navine said, "Caring for persons of determination came up. It seems that while there is a lot of assistance for the kids, there are few places where parents can meet-up and take a break. The necessity for this specific area has been demonstrated by Farah's initiative to form a group that is in line with our objective at CWAE and the reaction from the membership.”

Farah arrived in the UAE in 2021 with a background in teaching English as a second language and a PhD in applied linguistics. She stated that her own son, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of two and a half, was the driving force for the group's founding. "Over the past eight years, as mother and son, we have been on a journey," she added. “When I relocated to Dubai, I realised that I needed to connect with others who were on the same path so I could learn from them and return the favour to the community.”

"A child's diagnosis affects every aspect of a mother's life and can result in depression and mental health issues, which is not good for the parent or the child," Farah said, outlining the difficulties and how the P.O.D. organisation can help mothers. In order to accept the diagnosis and embrace life's alternative plan, women must be able to get past their sadness. However, doing so might be challenging if you're preoccupied with raising a determined kid.

The club seeks to provide moms the support they need to have more self-assurance and generate good energy so they may lead fulfilling lives, the speaker concluded. This begins with giving them a place to concentrate on themselves, engage in activities other than providing for their kid, and give priority to their own mental health and welfare in order to flourish rather than merely survive. They are also better able to care for their child's needs physically and emotionally as a result of taking that time and space.

Participants in the group get the chance to learn from opposing viewpoints and take strength and inspiration from the humbling tales of like-minded mothers. The group has a broad membership of women from different countries and origins who are caring for children with a wide variety of diseases. Many of the group's activities are accessible to both members and non-members and cover comparable subjects like dealing with sorrow and unfavourable emotions.

Giselle Maidou, who just relocated from Kenya to Dubai, got support from a group of mothers who helped her get by in life and promote the rights of the determined. She has gained insightful knowledge from the organisation, and it has given her the guts to speak out for persons with drive in larger society.

Czech immigrant Radunka Rudebaugh talked about how lonely it may be to raise a child with special needs. She has been motivated and given hope by her pals. The group is a breath of fresh air since it is made up of beautiful individuals that support, listen, understand, and exchange information with one another.