Haiti Rehabilitation Centre

The patients at the HCBH Rehabilitation Center have taken on a new and exciting project - recycling sugar cane to create charcoal briquettes for cooking.  Charcoal is used by the vast majority of Haitians to cook their meals, and currently most charcoal is produced from wood.  As deforestation is one of Haiti’s largest environmental, agricultural, and economic threats, this development brings hope for a brighter future for Haiti. 

To make the briquettes, dried sugar cane waste (“bagas”) left over from commercial cane production is burned quickly, mixed with water and a starch, pressed into briquettes, and left to dry in the sun. The tools necessary for the process are easy to procure and relatively cheap, about 25 USD.

We have partnered with a couple organizations (Carbon Roots Int’l and Second Mile) to pioneer this program, which promises to be life-changing for our rehabilitation patients.  Upon leaving the rehab center, our patients will have the tools and skills to run their own charcoal production business.  “Cocobai,” meaning “worthless” is how many Haitians refer to the handicapped, as it is usually practically impossible for them to find a livelihood, so this program gives our patients a second chance at a normal life and an opportunity to change perceptions about disability.

We thank you for your support of the HCBH Rehabilitation Center.  Without your generous contributions, programs like this are not able to happen.  You are a vital part of our life-changing ministry, and we hope we can count on your continued donations.

Links:

• Visit our website today to find out more.

In our last report, we highlighted the exciting time one of our rehab patients had in London, representing Haiti at the London 2012 Paralympians.  Just a few months after he returned, the legacy of London really started in Haiti, as we partnered with a number of groups and opened Haiti's first purpose built Inclusive Sports Centre, as part of our rehabilitation unit.

It's been amazing to see the community get involved in this new area of our work.  The heart behind this exciting new facility is to empower persons with disabilities, and overcome the stigma of disability which so often alienates persons with disabilities from the community.  The good news is...it's working!  Some of the local community who once looked on and laughed at some of our patients playing sport, now use the gym with them, and are developing friendships!  This includes our wheelchair basket ball players, playing with able bodied users, and the local amputee football team using the gym for training.  One person from the local community said 'this is the first time something has been built, where they can come with our disabled friends.' 

The rehab unit has really benefited from this project.  One of our younger rehab patients had been suffering with severe depression, as he tried to come to terms with his paralysis.  However, thanks to the continued work of our team and the new sports activities available, his outlook was completely transformed, and he left the hospital as a confident, young man.  This is just one example of the difference being made thanks to your support!  Please continue to join us, as we seek to empower those with disabilities, and prove that disability is not inability!

Links:

• Find out more about our work today