Update from LN-4 Project - Fitting Hands in the Dominican Republic
Posted by Michael Blackwell
on Aug 04, 2011
Dublin AM members attending a meeting of the Santo Domingo Rotary club the night before the LN-4 fittings.
Of all the things we in Rotary do to serve others, “hands on” help is perhaps the most rewarding (I apologize for the terrible pun). Giving face-to-face and seeing the gratitude fills the heart’s yearning for connection and provides that deep sense of well-being that lies at the root of true service.
Thanks to some Rotarians, their relatives, some Rotary Interact members, and Bonnie Coley-Malir’s typically excellent photography, we all got to experience that sense of reward, as they brought the LN-4 project trip to the Dominican Republic to life for us, from the work they did though moving interactions with local Rotarians to lessons learned:
Harvey Hook: “The work began with building a wheelchair ramp to provide access to Mission Emanuel’s medical facility. This photo is of the block line. People pass along cinder blocks along as they can stand it. We got the American visitors properly broken in and sweaty. The ramp will allow some of the 70 people we employ at Mission Emanuel to provide service to disabled people visiting the clinic.”
Jim Burness: “We fitted about 75 hands. Some will need to be refitted. Carlos Somenta (from the Santo Domingo Club – and Ph.D. and active volunteer to the largest Rehabilitation Clinic in the Dominican Republic, didn’t want to say no to anyone, and we did a lot of work trying to make the hands work for everyone. Seventeen of the 24 Rotary Clubs in the Dominican Republic assisted, finding people who needed hands and learning themselves how to fit the hands. The idea is for Rotarians there to carry on the work. We had two stations: one to fit the hands and one to teach people how to hold a pen, a cup or a toothbrush. You won’t believe the emotions that they displayed, with one person often going from tears to smiling ear to ear. And the Rotarians who helped us and welcomed us into their homes are some of the most amazing people you could ever meet.”
Rita Hook: “Most of the people who need fittings were injured in accidents. Some are there due to birth defects, but electrocution of people trying to tie into power lines and machete attacks on people during attempted robberies of motor scooters make up a sad majority of cases.”
Sue Burness: “Everyone there was so full of life and gratitude even though they don’t live lives of privilege. I learned from them how to be grateful and happy, and to strive to be kind, no matter what stage we are in life.”
Kyle Ritterbach: “They don’t have much, and it was a great lesson for me to see how they make life matter so much no matter how little they might have.”
Emily Sharrick: “I’ve had many great experiences in Rotary Interact, but I’ve never experienced anything as moving as this before. I know I’ll never take things as simple as clean water and air conditioning for granted again. Thanks for sending me. I’ve learned that giving is the greatest happiness.”
This project demonstrates the power of Rotary – it began at a castle in England at the International Convention in 2009 – and two years later Dublin AM Rotarians were working with new Rotary friends in the Dominican Republic changing lives and teaching others to continue the project to those in need of a helping hand.