| disability who cares? |
October 2006 index|
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) encourages an active role in the rehabilitation process by people with disabilities, their families and the community. |
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In Nekempte, Ethiopia, a small group of children who are suffering from cerebral palsy attend a programme in the compound two mornings a week run by the CBR team. “We have led the worship in two churches so far. The congregations enjoy the children’s contribution and see the potential of people with disabilities when some help is given. The churches are filled although they struggle to afford the pastors and evangelists.” In South East Asia a centre trains disabled teenagers to support themselves financially and live independent lives. Team members have a willingness to demonstrate God’s love through their everyday lives and want each teenager to develop their God-given potential. Overt evangelism is not encouraged in the country but staff take up every opportunity to answer questions. In North Africa a centre for rehabilitation helps both children and parents physically and spiritually. A worker relates, “One boy died last summer, but not before I got the opportunity to pray for him and to tell him that the Lord loved him. He was loved and cherished, and his mother got the support she needed.” In Karagwe, Tanzania, little did Bridget Hathaway dream that her work amongst children with clubfeet would bring such a creative response from a North Wales link church with which she has a long association . . . Jake Williams, grandson of a parishioner in Dyffryn Arduduwy (Bangor Diocese) was the inspiration behind an Advent appeal to provide operations for Tanzanian children with this problem. Jake himself was receiving treatment for clubfeet at Gobowen Orthopaedic Hospital and when his grandmother Pam Odam told them about Bridget’s work they donated his plaster casts as ‘Christmas stocking’ collection boxes. Rev Stephanie Beacon, Rector of Dyffryn, Talybont, Llanbedr and Llandanwg, was thrilled to present Bridget with the massive sum of £1000 which had been donated by these four small churches in Stephanie’s care. Bridget commented, “The creativity and generosity of this small Christian community has encouraged us immensely.” Photos: Top inset: fundraisers at Dyffryn Ardudwy. Below: Jake (centre) with his brother (who helped him lots) and Bridget.
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