The Handicapped Center

Health care, hygiene and prenatal care in many countries have reduced the number of birth defects, diseases which debilitate, and accidents which dismember. In a developing country like the DR Congo, there are people with extreme challenges. Here there are no laws about access, no assistance with transportation, and no medical care from birth to assist as a child learns to live with a disability. We met with two men who have worked with the handicapped in their area, Willmar and Emanuel. Willmar is a young man with a big heart. Emanuel is a man with a big smile and his own disability, leg braces and crutches, perhaps from childhood polio. They are part of an organization which tries to help the handicapped develop independence. They had a relationship with the Barlow's ,our predecessors, and have come once more to talk to LDS HS. We visited some of their outreach programs.

This is the Handicapped Center where people gather to talk to volunteers and to get whatever help is available. Look closely at this picture. Can you identify the four people who use shoes on their hands to get around? The woman in front of the door had the biggest smile we have seen in the DR Congo, yet mobility for her was extremely difficult as she had no function in her lower body.

This small, homegrown NGO has established a sewing center in a market area. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, one group sews at the center. On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday another group sews there. The goods are marketed from the shop.

This is one happy seamstress.

One of these young women is deaf. The other has a disability affecting her mobility.



This man is blind. He had just finished tailoring a pair of men's pants.

This is a father and son. The father has learned to repair shoes that others have thrown away and sell them. He has a withered leg. The son has no use of his legs.

This woman has learned to make African dolls. She lives with her family. Her legs are also in braces.

The group also operates a small pig farm. The pictures of this did not work out very well, probably because we took them so quicky.

The NGO has asked for wheelchairs and crutches. They would like help restarting a bakery, but we are not able to supply flour for the operation. They are up against a market economy, and a huge bakery in Kinshasa that makes baguettes which are exceptionally cheap and delivered across the city. There may be other training opportunities we will be able to help with.