Bethesda
Disability Training and Support Centre
Bethesda: a place of healing 
(John 5:1-18)
Bethesda is being developed by SWIM in conjunction with other stakeholders including the Ministry of Health and People With Disabilities Solomon Islands (PWDSI) to meet some of the needs of people with disabilities by teaching life skills and helping individuals achieve their full potential.
Construction of the project began in April, 2008. Some houses and the workshop are already on site. Plans include client housing, with kitchen facilities for the groups, and a main centre for training. The site will also contain numerous houses for the staff. There is ample room on the 5-acre site for gardens and for housing chickens or pigs.
The aim is for programs for PWDs to commence early 2010, and a Program Manager/Advisor has been identified. The plans are for her to start in August 2009.
Some goals of the centre are:
- Provide personal healthcare
- Train in life skills and make available appropriate occupational therapy (through crafts, gardening, husbandry, etc.)
- Train families and carers, as well as having a resource library
- Disability advocacy
- Network with other agencies
- To achieve a degree of self-sufficiency for the centre through the sale of eggs and extra garden produce
