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Soleil de l’Ouest

Communities are only as strong as their members. In this respect, in 2016, Soleil de l’Ouest developed the Strong Families, Stronger Communities programme. This is the main stem of action at Soleil de l'Ouest. The programme includes various activities that are directly correlated to strengthening the family unit and helping them contribute to a stronger community.

 

To promote mental health, Soleil de l’Ouest has a family counsellor, one child counsellor, and two social workers who provide psychosocial support to families affected by mental health issues, family violence, and alcohol and other drugs (AOD). Using a systemic approach, our psychosocial team helps individuals and families identify their existing strengths and capacities and develop the tools necessary for their development.

 

To foster physical health, the association’s social workers link to existing services and encourage regular medical check-ups as per needs identified by social workers for the community. The association also provides yoga sessions at Case Noyale and Le Morne. The communities covered by Soleil de l’Ouest often lack geographical, financial, social, or emotional access to existing services, including medical services. Our social workers and volunteers support vulnerable community members by giving them access to health and social services. This support includes social workers accompanying community members to the hospital, social security, protection services, etc. The goal is to ensure that beneficiaries receive the services they are entitled to.

 

Soleil de l’Ouest has also developed the Reflexion Partage Parent (RPP) programme. This programme consists of eight sessions that give parents a platform to reflect and discuss issues affecting their lives and develop the tools to address these issues. The topics covered include self-esteem, communication within the family, child development, budgeting, health and nutrition, and basics on drug and alcohol issues. RPP is conducted once a year in one village at a time, depending on available funding.

 

A programme of "Accompagnement Scolaire" is also conducted by Soleil de l’Ouest in Case Noyale once a week to provide educational support.

 

Accreditation Number with the National Social Inclusion Foundation: NCSRF/2017/0444

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Services offered

Psychosocial Support

  • Family counselling
  • Child counselling
  • Active listening
  • Linking to existing services
  • Support group sessions for carers and family members of individuals dependent on drugs or alcohol (held every 3rd Wednesday in Cotteau Raffin)

 

Health and Care

  • Linking to existing health services
  • Referral and access to private medical consultations, including psychiatric support
  • Sports and leisure activities for women and adolescents (yoga)
  • Nutrition programmes including home gardening, a community garden in Chamarel, and a food boutique

 

Development and Education

  • Reflexion Partage Parents: An 8-session programme providing parents with the space to reflect on issues affecting their lives and develop the necessary tools and resources to address these issues
  • Accompagnement scolaire: Weekly educational support in Case Noyale

 

Beneficiaries: As of the end of 2023, Soleil de l’Ouest has supported 786 individuals living in difficult situations across more than 200 families.

History

Soleil de L’Ouest was created in 2011 to address poverty and promote social integration among some of the most vulnerable individuals and communities in Mauritius. The organisation operates in the villages of Chamarel, Case Noyale, La Gaulette, Cotteau Raffin, and Le Morne Village. These areas are home to some of the most at-risk communities in Mauritius. According to the Government’s 2011 Relative Development Index, Le Morne village was ranked last (145th), indicating it is the least developed village in Mauritius. Case Noyale was ranked 143rd, just ahead of Le Morne Village and Rodrigues Island, while Chamarel was ranked 136th. Three of the four villages in our region were among the ten least developed villages in Mauritius.

 

The region suffers from low education levels, food insecurity, poor physical and mental health, and high socioeconomic issues such as drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, and child abuse. Women and children are often the first victims of violence in the region and require urgent support. Contributing factors to domestic violence include trans-generational patterns of violence, low self-esteem, and mental health issues. These patterns can only be addressed and broken through community-based development initiatives combined with ongoing psychosocial support. Additionally, the unstable employment of many community members leads to daily food insecurity.

 

In response to the growing problem of violence within the family unit, Soleil de l’Ouest developed the Strong Families, Stronger Communities programme in 2016. This programme aims to strengthen family units and help them contribute to a stronger community through various support and development activities.

Objectives

To reduce poverty and alleviate human suffering in some of the most vulnerable groups in the communities of Le Morne Village, Cotteau Raffin, La Gaulette, Case Noyale, and Chamarel by:

  • Empowering individuals and families to become leaders in the development of their own communities.
  • Strengthening the family unit through psychosocial support.
  • Improving physical and mental health in the community.
Sources of funding
  • National Social Inclusion Foundation (NSIF)
  • Other private funders (long-term and one-off partnerships)
  • Private donations
  • Fundraising events
  • Boutique solidaire Soleil de l'Ouest