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I am an occupational therapist, lecturer and researcher with a Master of Occupational Therapy (advanced occupational therapy) degree from Stellenbosch University, a Bachelor of Social Science Special Honours degree in Monitoring and Evaluation from Lupane State University and a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Zimbabwe. I am currently enrolled for a PhD at the University of Zimbabwe, and I’m a fellow with the African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI) – II. My PhD study aims to develop an interprofessional algorithm for referring persons with substance use disorders to work-related mental health resources, services and interventions. My motivation for community engagement is the co-creation of contextually relevant research that addresses the work needs of persons with disabilities. Through participatory approaches in community engagement, I aim to identify research priorities, promote buy-in to research, and refine research methods for work rehabilitation.
Current Community Engagement Project
I am currently collaborating on a community engagement project in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe focused on work participation for persons with chronic psychosocial disabilities (PwCPDs).
Aims:
- To start critical conversations around barriers and facilitators to work participation among PwCPDs.
- To involve PwCPDs throughout the planning, implementation, dissemination and evaluation stages of the Public Engagement project.
- To disseminate findings of prior research on barriers and facilitators to work and interventions to promote work participation of PwCPDs.
- To co-create research priorities in work and vocational rehabilitation with persons with lived experience.
- To use art and drama to share PwCPDs’ perspectives on priorities for research on work participation and interventions.
I have engaged PwCPDs, their relatives, community leaders and government representatives, through a town hall meeting and three focus group discussions, in a dialogue on local experiences of work participation by PwCPDs and their perceived gaps in research and vocational rehabilitation. We will engage PwCPDs to co-create and present craftwork articles, drawings, poems, music and a drama about their work participation experiences and needs at an art festival. We intend to invite Ministry representatives from Ministries of Health and Child Care and Public Works, Labour and Social Welfare, as well as community leaders and relatives of PwCPDs to the festival, a platform for inclusive participatory dialogue on policy, research priorities and interventions for work participation of PwCPDs. The event will be publicised in print and digital media. Knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of the community on barriers and facilitators to work participation of PwCPDs will be measured before and after the engagement activities to assess the success of the public engagement with science project.
