VISION

Our vision is for unpaid family caregivers in South American countries to have a recognised place in society.

MISSION

Our mission is to support and make visible and value the invisible role of the unpaid family caregivers in South American countries.

THE PERSONAL STORY BEHIND THE CAREGIVERS SUPPORT TRUST

Isabel and her daughter Diana Paola.

My name is Dilia Esther White-Andrade (née Andrade González) and I am originally from Colombia. In 2008 my husband and I moved from Santa Marta-Colombia to Exmouth.

I have a niece, her name is Diana Paola, who was born with cerebral palsy. She is intelligent and creative, but sadly her condition also brings physical and communication difficulties. She uses a wheelchair and suffers seizures daily. Over recent years Diana Paola’s condition has deteriorated and the strain on her mother has been tremendous. And there are countless other families in similar situations.

Having a niece with disability made me realise the importance of the role of unpaid family caregivers, especially those families with low income. This issue gave me a new perspective about what families with a disabled family member goes through.

Until you live something yourself, you don’t really appreciate all the complexities and challenges they face every day. For this reason, I am working with my sister Isabel (Diana’s mother) and others in Santa Marta to set up a “Community Caring Centre”. We hope the charity will be able to provide respite for caregivers and a safe place to meet, socialise, share experiences and support each other.

It is heart-breaking watching my sister deal with her daughter’s health problems. It is now so encouraging to see how she has benefited from the little breaks from her regular role as a caregiver; and also meeting others in a similar situation and with the support extended from the Heroínas en la Sombra (The local charity that we are working with).

Thank you for your ongoing support!. Together we can make visible the invisible role of unpaid
family caregivers.