𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
In 1997, a group of Professional Volunteers under the leadership of Youssouf Noormamode, C.S.K, Founder of EDYCS Epilepsy Group rallied together to form a voice for epilepsy in the Republic of Mauritius. Since 1997, we have been serving the country as a registered health charity incorporated under the statutes of the Registrar of Associations as a non-profit and non-governmental organization. We aim to advocate the Rights of Persons with epilepsy, raise public awareness, improve education through publications, conferences and outreach initiatives.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰? Today, EDYCS Epilepsy Group has 4 full time established operating Centers in Mauritius and Rodrigues islands. Over the years, the structure and management have evolved into an organization much greater than the founding group of members could have imagined. Through it all however, our mission remains unchanged:
EDYCS Epilepsy Group exists to promote independence and optimal quality of life for those living with seizure disorders by promoting information, awareness, support services, advocacy, education and research.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐬𝐲? Epilepsy is estimated around more than 20,000 people in the Republic of Mauritius. It is the most common serious brain disorder affecting people of all ages, religions, communities and social backgrounds. Epilepsy is a tendency to have recurrent seizures called ‘fits’ or ‘seizures’ which originate from the brain. These result from disturbances in the brain’s normal electrical activity. Congenital abnormalities, prenatal and perinatal factors, severe head trauma or injury, infections of the brain, cerebrovascular disease, brain malformations, cerebral tumors can lead to epilepsy. Learning disability and behavior disturbance are also commonly found in many people with chronic epilepsy.
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
EDYCS Epilepsy Group’s vision is to create an epilepsy free community.
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
EDYCS Epilepsy Group is dedicated to promoting independence and optimal quality of life for children and adults living with seizure disorders through the development of appropriate strategies, programs and services addressing their needs and fulfilling their Rights.
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬
Our members are patients and family focused. We work cross sectors to bring epilepsy out of the shadows in the Republic of Mauritius, its outer islands and Africa.
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬
• Advocate for the Rights of People with Epilepsy in line with the UNCRPD and the African Charter on Human Rights of People with Disabilities
• Promote epilepsy awareness and education to create acceptability of the disorder
• Provide epilepsy care services including therapeutic and psychological support to People with Epilepsy
• Promote inclusive education for children and young adolescents with epilepsy and learning disorders
• Engage Professional Volunteers to support our programs and projects
• Mobilize both technical and financial resources to achieve planned programs and services
• Develop close working partnership with Government Agencies, Donor funding Institutions Private Foundations, the Media and the Private Corporate Sector to achieve our mission
• Organize training workshops in epilepsy management targeting medical and non-medical Professionals
• Create linkage and collaboration with Regional and International Organizations in epilepsy
• Raise high the profile of epilepsy, its medical and social consequences with Parliamentarians to advance the epilepsy agenda
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤
• Advocacy in Human Rights & Policies
• Campaigning epilepsy out of the shadows under the WHO/ILAE/IBE Global Campaign against epilepsy
• Employability of Persons with epilepsy
• Epilepsy Care Support Services
• Inclusive Education
• Membership
• Mobilization of resources
• Publications
• Training
• Volunteers
• Women’s with epilepsy empowerment
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
• Registrar of Associations, Government of Mauritius Licence 5268
• National Social Inclusion Foundation N/2017/0154
• Government of Mauritius Business Registration Number A19000212
• Ministry of Education (SENS Unit) / Special Education Needs Authority
• Disability Unit Ministry of Social Integration , Social Security and National Solidarity
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐮𝐬)
• Port Louis Regional Youth Council / National Youth Council
• National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons
• Mauritius Family Planning Welfare Association
• Indian Ocean Disability Network (IODN)
• Foodwise
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐮𝐬)
• Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity
• Ministry of Education (SENS Unit)
• Ministry of Health & Wellness
• Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare
• Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Institutional Reforms
• Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation
• World Health Organisation Country Office Mauritius
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 & 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
• Africa Disability Alliance
• IBE Africa Regional Committee
• International Bureau for Epilepsy
𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬
• Outstanding NGO Award (Mauritius Council of Social Services) Year 1999
• Oscar de la Jeunesse Award (Ministry of Youth & Sports) Year 1999
• Outstanding NGO Award (Mauritius Council of Social Services) Year 2000
• Nominee Oscar de la Jeunesse Award (Ministry of Youth & Sports) Year 2000
• United Way Volunteer Award Year 2002
• Nominee AOYP Junior Economic Chamber Year 2002
• Outstanding NGO Award (Mauritius Council of Social Services) Year 2003
• Nominee National Youth Council Project Award Year 2004
• United Way Mauritius Best Affiliate Award Year 2005
• 1st Prize National NGO Award (Ministry of Social Security, NGO Trust Fund & MACOSS) Year 2008
• 1st Prize Lifetime Achievement Award (Mauritius Council of Youth Leaders) Year 2009
