Emily Lecker and Michele Gardiner, 2007
24/11/07 14:57
OUR KENYAN EXPERIENCE!
As pediatric Occupational Therapists (OT’s) in Canada, we were able to use our summer vacation to volunteer internationally. Organizing and fundraising for our trip, while still working full time was no easy task, but the look on the families’ faces when we provided services, or delivered a piece of equipment, made it all worthwhile.
During our stay in Kenya, we spent 4 weeks working as OT’s at the Disability Service Program (DSP). Mr. Okidi, his family and his DSP team (Florence, Theresa, Thomas, Jared and Mary) were very welcoming and with their guidance we learned an incredible amount about Kenyan culture; from the health care system and the provision of rehabilitation services, to how to cook a Kenyan meal from start to finish.
In collaboration with the DSP team and the McMaster occupational therapy students, Katie and Sarah, we assisted the disabled population in rural Kenya in a variety of ways:
Work at the clinic: Two days every week were devoted to the DSP clinic where people from the Opapo area would drop-in to seek advice and treatment. In addition to this, we participated in a “training-week” where families came and lived at the clinic in order to receive intensive treatment. We were able to see how the clients experienced incredible peer-support from other families living similar situations.
Home visits: At least 1 time per week, visits were carried out to provide programs and suggestions for adaptations to facilitate the care and participation of individuals with disabilities in these small rural communities. At times we would walk for hours to reach the houses but we were always greeted with such a very warm welcome.
Outreach clinics: We traveled to outlying communities and set up temporary clinics at local schools where we assessed the health needs of children and adults living in those areas, provided them with recommendations and directed them towards the most appropriate resources. This was an amazing experience as these communities rarely have access to health care professionals. We found ourselves in the position of a doctor, therapist, teacher, nurse and OT all at once.
Equipment: During our stay a large amount of our time was dedicated to teaching families and the Kenyan therapists about the benefits of different positioning and mobility equipment and how to reproduce these items using local resources. Through our fundraising efforts, we were able to bring some donated equipment from Canada that was used at the clinic in therapy, and provided to some clients to assist with positioning as needed. In addition to this, we received a large donation specifically to hire a local technician to make adapted tricycles and wheelchairs (see list and photos).
Sponsorship: The money that we raised that did not get used to pay for our volunteering expenses was used to fund surgeries, transportation to hospitals, school fees and other pieces of equipment for certain clients.
School Donations: Donations of school supplies, toys, books, communication software, and hockey bags were also collected and distributed to prioritized schools for children with special needs in Western rural Kenya.
Beril:
Pauline:
Peter:
Eric:
Beatrice:
Mother Slemina:
Loreen:
Kennedy
Lavender’s club foot surgery:
We wish to acknowledge the generosity of our donors and facilitators:
Fondation Roncalli. This significant donation allowed the DSP to hire a local technician who made the wheelchairs and adapted tricycles mentioned above.
MAB-Mackay Rehabiliation Centre Seating department: Suzanne Cloutier and Dave Michalski; Marie-Enfant Rehabilitation Centre Orthotics department: Jocelyne Lapierre and Charles Dion; Mackay Centre School Teachers & Staff with the collaboration Debbie Colton’s grade 4 students of 2006-2007; Mission Itech Hockey: Greg Goyer and Sandra Lovell; Margaret O’Dowd, Carolyn Grilli, Andrew McCready, Leam Venafro, Louis Engelberg, Derek Walsh, Chris A. Boakye-Agyeman, Reliable Hoisery Ltd. (Herman Gruenwald), Trudy and Lawrence Chernin, John and Jane Cosner, Dominique Auger and Juliette Auger, Sylvie St-Amand, Alain Vaillancourt, Bob Simpson, Karen Hulme, Sandy Martz, Jane Pilon, Laurie Snider, Susan Epstein, Dale Bonnycastle, Suzanne Cloutier, Clement Couture, Erik Petursson, Alain Provencher, Diane Calce, Susan Wener, Dolorés Dufault, Carmen Daudelin, Alain Daudelin, Thomas and Betts Ltee (Sylvie Le Tual, Marie-Hélène Savo), Wendy and Sharon Duncan family and friends, Joan Fournier, Alison Steel, Neil Matheison, Yvan Dumoulin, Robert Lecker and Mary Williams, Pierre and Janet Cholette, Christine Boyle, Richard and Louise Pesner, Jocelyn Perodeau, Richard and Julie Blatt, J. Richer, Wayne Syvret, Solange Gardiner, Susan Wener, Rosemary Leaver, Jack and Sadye Engels, CCJ Investments Ltd (Manual Shacter), Irving Maklan, Keith Hardie, Louise and Harvey Dinnage, Fernand Lachance, Ben Weider, Rania Papanas, Martel Express Montreal Inc. (Ronald and Mathieu Valade), Pansy Drury, Meril Raymond, Stéphanie Caron, Dynavox (Laura Stasio and John McAvoy), Anne McLaughlin, Jeanne Leblanc, Janet Addleman, Katrin Nakashima, Valery Bryan, Martin Presseau et Alyssa Merilees, Debbie Colton, Bruno Boucher, Sylvie Boisvert’s bake sale, Hope Burton’s Fundraising Pub night. Monique Marquis and the Mackay Rehabilitation Centre Foundation; Julie Hard and the Kenya Working Group; Paula Engels, Martial Rousseau; Bar le Normand; Jeanne McKinnon, Mr. and Mrs. Vignal; Desmond Green at British Airways Cargo office; Katie Bellefontaine and Sarah Brownrigg, OT McMaster students.
We wish to sincerely thank THEM ALL for the incredible support!
Emily Lecker and Michele Gardiner
As pediatric Occupational Therapists (OT’s) in Canada, we were able to use our summer vacation to volunteer internationally. Organizing and fundraising for our trip, while still working full time was no easy task, but the look on the families’ faces when we provided services, or delivered a piece of equipment, made it all worthwhile.
During our stay in Kenya, we spent 4 weeks working as OT’s at the Disability Service Program (DSP). Mr. Okidi, his family and his DSP team (Florence, Theresa, Thomas, Jared and Mary) were very welcoming and with their guidance we learned an incredible amount about Kenyan culture; from the health care system and the provision of rehabilitation services, to how to cook a Kenyan meal from start to finish.
In collaboration with the DSP team and the McMaster occupational therapy students, Katie and Sarah, we assisted the disabled population in rural Kenya in a variety of ways:
Work at the clinic: Two days every week were devoted to the DSP clinic where people from the Opapo area would drop-in to seek advice and treatment. In addition to this, we participated in a “training-week” where families came and lived at the clinic in order to receive intensive treatment. We were able to see how the clients experienced incredible peer-support from other families living similar situations.
Home visits: At least 1 time per week, visits were carried out to provide programs and suggestions for adaptations to facilitate the care and participation of individuals with disabilities in these small rural communities. At times we would walk for hours to reach the houses but we were always greeted with such a very warm welcome.
Outreach clinics: We traveled to outlying communities and set up temporary clinics at local schools where we assessed the health needs of children and adults living in those areas, provided them with recommendations and directed them towards the most appropriate resources. This was an amazing experience as these communities rarely have access to health care professionals. We found ourselves in the position of a doctor, therapist, teacher, nurse and OT all at once.
Equipment: During our stay a large amount of our time was dedicated to teaching families and the Kenyan therapists about the benefits of different positioning and mobility equipment and how to reproduce these items using local resources. Through our fundraising efforts, we were able to bring some donated equipment from Canada that was used at the clinic in therapy, and provided to some clients to assist with positioning as needed. In addition to this, we received a large donation specifically to hire a local technician to make adapted tricycles and wheelchairs (see list and photos).
Sponsorship: The money that we raised that did not get used to pay for our volunteering expenses was used to fund surgeries, transportation to hospitals, school fees and other pieces of equipment for certain clients.
School Donations: Donations of school supplies, toys, books, communication software, and hockey bags were also collected and distributed to prioritized schools for children with special needs in Western rural Kenya.
Adapted strollers (Equipment brought from Canada)
Beril:
Pauline:
Adapted tricycles and Wheelchairs made in Kenya
Peter:
Eric:
Beatrice:
Mother Slemina:
Loreen:
Other recipient of a wheelchair or tricycle (picture not available)
Kennedy
Lavender’s club foot surgery:
We wish to acknowledge the generosity of our donors and facilitators:
Fondation Roncalli. This significant donation allowed the DSP to hire a local technician who made the wheelchairs and adapted tricycles mentioned above.
MAB-Mackay Rehabiliation Centre Seating department: Suzanne Cloutier and Dave Michalski; Marie-Enfant Rehabilitation Centre Orthotics department: Jocelyne Lapierre and Charles Dion; Mackay Centre School Teachers & Staff with the collaboration Debbie Colton’s grade 4 students of 2006-2007; Mission Itech Hockey: Greg Goyer and Sandra Lovell; Margaret O’Dowd, Carolyn Grilli, Andrew McCready, Leam Venafro, Louis Engelberg, Derek Walsh, Chris A. Boakye-Agyeman, Reliable Hoisery Ltd. (Herman Gruenwald), Trudy and Lawrence Chernin, John and Jane Cosner, Dominique Auger and Juliette Auger, Sylvie St-Amand, Alain Vaillancourt, Bob Simpson, Karen Hulme, Sandy Martz, Jane Pilon, Laurie Snider, Susan Epstein, Dale Bonnycastle, Suzanne Cloutier, Clement Couture, Erik Petursson, Alain Provencher, Diane Calce, Susan Wener, Dolorés Dufault, Carmen Daudelin, Alain Daudelin, Thomas and Betts Ltee (Sylvie Le Tual, Marie-Hélène Savo), Wendy and Sharon Duncan family and friends, Joan Fournier, Alison Steel, Neil Matheison, Yvan Dumoulin, Robert Lecker and Mary Williams, Pierre and Janet Cholette, Christine Boyle, Richard and Louise Pesner, Jocelyn Perodeau, Richard and Julie Blatt, J. Richer, Wayne Syvret, Solange Gardiner, Susan Wener, Rosemary Leaver, Jack and Sadye Engels, CCJ Investments Ltd (Manual Shacter), Irving Maklan, Keith Hardie, Louise and Harvey Dinnage, Fernand Lachance, Ben Weider, Rania Papanas, Martel Express Montreal Inc. (Ronald and Mathieu Valade), Pansy Drury, Meril Raymond, Stéphanie Caron, Dynavox (Laura Stasio and John McAvoy), Anne McLaughlin, Jeanne Leblanc, Janet Addleman, Katrin Nakashima, Valery Bryan, Martin Presseau et Alyssa Merilees, Debbie Colton, Bruno Boucher, Sylvie Boisvert’s bake sale, Hope Burton’s Fundraising Pub night. Monique Marquis and the Mackay Rehabilitation Centre Foundation; Julie Hard and the Kenya Working Group; Paula Engels, Martial Rousseau; Bar le Normand; Jeanne McKinnon, Mr. and Mrs. Vignal; Desmond Green at British Airways Cargo office; Katie Bellefontaine and Sarah Brownrigg, OT McMaster students.
We wish to sincerely thank THEM ALL for the incredible support!
Emily Lecker and Michele Gardiner