Peer Support in Action
Let’s Face It, How a support network has helped facially different People
Junior Let's Face It is an organisation dedicated to helping those who are facially different, their loved ones, the professionals who care for them and the communities and schools which they live in and attend, to understand and solve the problem these children face. Every year thousands of children have to learn to live with facial disfigurement: however the face is damaged, the pain and distress caused to the individual concerned and the disturbing effect it can have upon family and friends is incalculable. At school, for one, it can expose these children to merciless bullying.
Christine Piff, who herself suffered a rare facial cancer and had to sacrifice half her face to save her life, has attempted to address the difficulties experienced by facially different people, with overwhelming success. She launched the Let's Face It Support Network, later adding Junior Let's Face It, which had developed over the years linking children and families within the network. Through this 'peer support', children and families can gain support from each other to help cope with the lack of understanding from peers, parents, teachers and the general public.
Let's Face It has also confronted the issue of bullying and rejection by producing two books, Me and My Face and Children's Faces. These books bridge the gaps between the 'differences' and educate the children and young people with 'normal' faces how it feels to be different in a society that expects people to conform and look perfect. It teaches young people to confront the bullies, the teasing and continuous manipulation that form part of the life of facially different children. The rationale holds that if the pain experienced by these people is explained to their peers, the facially different adults of tomorrow will not shut themselves away and will live as happy and fulfilling lives as their peers.
The Let's Face It Support Network can be contacted through Christine Piff, 14 Fallowfield, Yateley, Surrey GU17 7LW, Tel. (01252) 879630, Fax (01252) 872633 or at the London Office, Tel/Fax. (0181) 931 2829.
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