Our TUPUNA believes in natural remedies. Sand and Sea plays an important part or role in our TUPUNA’S lifestyle. In days of old, when a child with special needs was born to a family, as their child is growing, family will take their Pakipakitai child on the beach, dig a hole, place the child in the hole, with the head above the ground, while the family hang around just keeping an eye on the child, with the lapping of the sea on the seashore…. This lapping of waves (Pakipakitai) was to help sooth and heal the child.
In those days, families that had a Pakipakitai or disabled child would feel ashamed of the child and tried to hide them in their homes. As the World recognised the rights of these vulnerable people, so did the Cook Islands come to accept them as part of the community. Education played and vital part in awareness programs to our island community which today bears fruit to Pakipakitai being recognized in the Cook Islands.
Over the years, Bone/Muscle therapies has paid visit to educate our former and current staff how to cater for these Pakipakitai clients. 2009 Rarotonga Creative Centre Pakipakitai Clients with their staff visited Aitutaki and Aitutaki Pakipakitai host them on the day tour trip to Aitutaki sponsored by Air Rarotonga.
2012 – Received a Van, (Various Rotary Group around NZ and Motor Centre, Rarotonga) to transport our Pakipakitai clients to the Centre, for home visit, benefit days, and other necessary trips to assist our Pakipakitai.
Aitutaki Disable Centre or Pakipakitai Centre is where we base and sell our Craft, which has supported us financially, with our fuel (Van), meals on our Centre Days (Tuesday & Thursday – Weekly). Social Impact Fund is a core donor with the salary of our two staff, material for craft, Power/Phone.
Pakipakitai is a Non-Government Group, and Pakipakitai rely on the goodness of People in the Cook Islands and around the World
