Community Based Rehabilitation
“Will we finally move now?” The smile on Rania’s face was unmistakable. A combination of elation, joy, and anticipation was reflected in her expression as she entered the room and, with great skill, maneuvered her wheelchair into place to get ready for the day’s activities. Rania has been part of the project for a few years, and it has been exciting to see how she has developed—not only in physical and cognitive abilities, but above all, in her awareness of who she is, her value as a human being, and a self-confidence that is no longer hindered by the negative view of disabilities that still lingers in the village society where we work. She is one of the roughly 30 children who come each week to the simple activity center we started with our local partners in the middle of one of the villages.
Rania’s question was prompted by overhearing our local staff discussing the best time to move out of the rented building we’ve been using since the beginning. From the start, the vision has been to build a permanent space that would support long-term work. Fortunately, a piece of inherited land was made available early on to begin construction. However, raising enough local funds to build proved to be a significant challenge.
Then, about 18 months ago, something unexpected happened: a local cement factory offered to donate several tons of cement; a brick manufacturer contributed a few thousand bricks; and an excavator owner volunteered to dig and prepare the land. Now, the building is finally ready enough to move into, even though the surrounding area—where the playground and vegetable garden will be—is still under development. Nevertheless, everyone involved agrees: we can’t wait any longer. Yallah! Let’s move!
Rania’s best friend, Khawla, joins the cheerful group and tries to high-five Rania with her right hand while swinging her wheelchair around with her left. It was a bit too much at once, and their hands completely missed each other—prompting giggles from both of them that revealed a deep joy and a friendship not taken for granted. From their own experiences before joining us, both Khawla and Rania know what it feels like to be alone, overlooked, devalued, and isolated. That isolation is one of the most important issues we have worked to change, together with our local partners. Operation Mercy’s commitment to long-term, ongoing work has yielded results—step by step. Meaningful change, rooted in local ownership, rarely happens quickly.
As I left the center to return to town and handle some paperwork with the local authorities, I happened to overhear a bit of Rania and Khawla’s conversation. These bubbly 10-year-old girls were busy planning all the fun activities they would do at the new location—including the mischief they would get up to!
Perseverance Brings Progress
Now Rustam can express himself, he is socializing with his peers, and he is participating in the cultural events of the organization. Rustam is ready to go to school!
New Life for Abrahim
Nine-year-old Abrahim, who lives with cerebral palsy, joined the horse therapy program earlier this year together with his grandparents. When they first arrived, his grandfather, Eleman,
A New Chair
She really enjoyed her new chair and even after this very short time, it was recognisable that her body posture had already been improved.
Mothers’ Meeting
Many mothers of children with disabilities live in deep isolation.
Small Journeys
“Will my daughter ever stand?”
“Will my son learn to talk?”
“Will he be able to go to school?”
“Will others notice that she is different?”
These are the kinds of questions mothers ask when they discover their child has a disability.
Never too late to learn!
With the support and help from the staff I learnt how to take care of a child with disability.
Local Partnerships to Maximise Capacity
When a massive flood hit the North West of the country, our team was able to visit and make connections with families and centres with children with disabilities.
Hope Stored in His Heart
Most of all we sense that Haitham now has hope stored in his heart that he did not have before.
Professionalism Produces Results
Practical training like this empowers therapists to be more professional and to achieve better results in their treatment.
Healing and Growth
During a wedding in a small local village a large fire broke out!
Small Achievements
Since birth, Nurdoolot has lived with a serious condition: intracranial pressure. Doctors discovered a cyst in his brain that is pressing on the area responsible for movement and vision.
Opening Doors to Equality
Children with disabilities (CWD) are being given the chance to learn at mainstream schools thanks to one of our partner organisations in Tajikistan.
School accessibility is one of the most important components of providing inclusive education and promotion of the rights of children with disabilities.
Colours of Hope
A new initiative started at the beginning of the year with the aim of training a group of teenage boys with disabilities in practical skills. By learning to repair wheelchairs,
Not Just Playing Around
This child was 2 ½ years old and had never walked alone before!
Training for Local Health Care Professionals
Kangaroo care and skin to skin contact between mother and newborn baby – these are vital practices unheard of in the local Kazakh neonatology hospitals.
Now He Sits Like a King!
Positioning and proper support for children with cerebral palsy is crucial to their development and also to interacting and engaging with their environment.
Don’t Give Up, There Is Still Hope
After a year of working with her, she is now able to feed herself, shower independently and help with cleaning around the house! When we first started working with her,
Receiving Help, Taking Responsibility
Amantur lives on a small farm in Kyrgyzstan that is quite remote, lying between two villages.
The View Changes
After a couple of sessions on the back of a gentle horse, Jamal now rides with a smile on his face.
We Learn Together to Improve Our Lives!
Nazira is a mother of a child with disability, and a new staff of our partner organization. She participated in a training on early intervention for children with hearing and visual impairments.