There are new sounds coming from the centre these days. As regular activities continue on the main floor, the basement storage area and the enclosed land around the building are now filled with the sounds of people at work – drilling, hammering, sawing, painting.
It has long been the dream of Operation Mercy’s Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) staff to find ways to develop practical skills that will invest in the future of teens with disabilities. Over the years, local staff have offered activities in handicrafts and cooking, which have been well received by the teens. Then, at the beginning of 2025, we had the opportunity to partner with a vocational skills instructor who was willing to come a couple of times a week specifically to work with the teenage boys in the CBR project.
The work began with repairing wheelchairs that had been sitting in the storage area – too broken to use but too valuable to throw away. Ahmad, a young man with a hearing disability and the centre’s bus driver, quickly displayed a talent for creative problem-solving, fitting parts from one wheelchair to complete another. Muhammed, a young teen with Down’s Syndrome, discovered a whole new world of opportunity. It was his first time fitting tyres onto wheelchairs, tightening the nut on a bolt, and thinking through which size spanner to use. It was his first time experiencing the close camaraderie that comes from working together on a project over several days or even weeks – with all the humorous mishaps and the joys of achievement. Perhaps it was also his first time being mentored by an adult man willing to explain patiently and give him the chance to try out new skills.
Such deep investment over time brings transformation. In the past few months, the team has progressed to building a bench out of recycled wooden pallets, hanging curtains, and repainting the swing set frame belonging to the centre. With each new experience, Muhammed radiates joy and confidence. His family has also noticed the change in him. He is excited to come to the centre every week and even seeks to practise his newfound skills at home. For a boy who has been in and out of school systems, Muhammed has found a place where he not only feels welcome but also valued and included.
Practical skills development is an important step towards investing in the future of these young men. However, just as important are the skills of listening to instruction, creative thinking, trial and error, and teamwork. Even deeper still is the value of mentorship – of being seen, understood, and encouraged to grow as a person. With each layer of investment, hopes and possibilities expand, creating lasting change that goes far beyond one experience.
