ICDP Testimonials

Ms.Shila Sapkota (Psychologist)

ICDP Facilitator,

Focal person of Child Protection at SOS Children Village Nepal, Bharatpur.

Dipak Neupane (Psychologist)

ICDP Facilitator,

KOSHISH Nepal

As an ICDP facilitator, I was able to change my own perception towards a child and interacting with a child personally and professionally. The knowledge, skill and practice from ICDP training has given me more confidence to be a better caregiver and parent in the days to come. I understand ICDP as a simple and effective intervention that builds Competence of caregivers in providing psychosocial care.

Being a mental health professional, I used to believe that only experts can provide guidance on better parenting. After taking ICDP, I realized that empowering the child's parents or other caregivers through trainings, orientations and supervision is the best way to ensure proper care and overall wellbeing of a child.

When I have to connect ICDP with my working spheres, KOSHISH works in the field of mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. Sensitization of parents and caregivers whose family members are suffering from psychosocial issues was always challenging for me. Now, incorporating ICDP techniques in psychosocial counseling process related with child, family and relationship counseling has been proved to be very effective. This technique is also helpful and effective in school mental health programs of KOSHISH.

Ms. Punya Kumari Shakya (A Ward Member and A teacher)

ICDP Facilitator,

Lalitpur Municipality 

The Lalitpur municipality conducted the Caregivers meeting in the midst of the Covid 19 in their local ethnic language called Newari language. The facilitator states " We conducted 8 Caregiver Meetings in Yatbahal Chowk, Ward No. 11, Lalitpur Metropolitan city including 10 where 8 were mothers. Me and my ICDP partner as a member of Ward No. 11 and a member of legislature committee, a teacher of Child Development Centre of Ward No. 16 of Lalitpur Metropolitan city, felt privileged to work as facilitators under ICDP project. When I was a teacher, I used to scold and hit the children and get irritated because of their behavior.

I thought I was an insightful and good teacher for the children but after taking ICDP classes, I realized my shortcomings. Now I treat my daughters and other children through ICDP education (philosophy). We conducted ICDP classes in Newari Language-Ethnic language, (our mother tongue) as there was only Newari community people in the very ward, we could teach well and participants also could understand well. Caregivers are comfortable in their mother tongue. And good part of running the ICDP session in local ethnic language, allows them to express their feelings and can connect to the ICDP essence who do not speak Nepali language (official language of Nepal). Our participant most of them were mother in- laws were very happy to share their feelings in their own mother tongue.

Through ICDP classes, they learned that house will be stronger if there is stronger foundation, what had to do to lay down the solid foundation and regulation also equally important. Eventually, it came to know that understanding, sensitizing can be developed through ICDP program and this is very important education. At the last day of the meeting, caregivers also suggested us and see the need to conduct the ICDP meeting for fathers group too. And after conducting the impactful session, I would also like to share our future plan of conducting the ICDP classes to the members of Child Protection Committee, Lalitpur municipality in 2021.

Sunita Khadka (Caregiver) sitting at the front with her child

Another parents from the organization named Kopila Nepa reports, I have two sons named Aron (9 years) and Benjamin (2 years). Among two kids Aron is suffering from global developmental delay, epilepsy and has also seizure. Aron goes to Kopila Nepa, where it has a care center for differently able child. I love my child from the very beginning and take care of Aron. But I used to take care of him when he has more in problem and have no idea to take care of him when the things are normal. At the same, when I used to be occupied and taking care of Aron, my other child Benjamin was sad, agitated and used to bang his head. I used to get tired, sad and get angry to the other child.

After ICDP session, I reflected that looking after one child, my other child was somewhat in neglection. And ICDP taught me to communicate, plan and understand my child perspective. Now, after ICDP things has improve much more. Aron also has seizure where he one’s cries, laugh or faint, the activity last for long time and things come normal after few minutes/hour. These seizure comes 10-15 times a day. I have given him medication as well but somewhat I believe that ICDP has played a crucial role, taught me to connect, love and communicate with my child. Now seizure has reduced much more and hardly the attacked has been encounter now. Thank you ICDP and Kopila Nepa. It has given me the different side to love, communicate, see and analyze.

Anita Limbu (Parents)

ICDP Caregiver

Cerebral Palsy Nepal

Anita Limbu is a single mother with one child and has to rear the child all alone, she does not get support and love from her family and relatives. Her child has second-degree cerebral palsy (child cannot walk and speak) and this made her feel that this child was a big burden in her life. Since all the responsibility of the child was on her she was very much frustrated with this burden. She got the opportunity to join the ICDP caregiver meeting with other mothers whose children were also suffering from Cerebral Palsy. In the very first session of the meeting, she cried a lot.

She realized the emotions of her child which she was ignoring before. During the meeting, she internalized her own behavior towards her child and started to see her child as a person rather than a burden and this made her behave positively towards the child. One day when her daughter asked her why she was not beating and scolding her as she used to do before, Anita was full of tears and realized how negatively she was treating her daughter all those days. Her daughter can’t speak but with her gesture can express her emotions and feelings. Her child, Unisa is very happy that her mother is caring and loving more than before. Anita is also very happy and thankful to get the ICDP caregiver meeting. Anita wants to be an example for all the mothers who has differently able child.