Haiti Rehabilitation Centre

Everyone is given challenges to overcome in life. We happen to work with patients who are in rehabilitation after a spinal cord injury. People who are viewed as lesser or incapable. But if you can spend just a few hours in the rehab building, you encounter people who are unwilling to let their physical challenges define them. Sibille, a physical therapist who has chosen to devote so much of her life to our rehab facility, had been toying with the idea of taking some of our wheelchair-bound patients up to the Citadelle. The Citadelle Laferrière represents all that Haiti has overcome and fought for. It is the largest fortress in the Americas and was built by Henri Christophe, a key figure during the slave revolt that eventually led to Haiti’s independence.

So when Sibille heard that there would be race to the top on Saturday, she took it as an opportunity to take 4 wheelchair-bound guys on an adventure. We had the privilege of partnering with Streethearts, a nonprofit that provides a safe haven for hundreds of street children in Cap-Haitien. They brought 15 teenagers to make the trek with us. Very rarely do things in this country go as planned, but one thing we couldn’t plan for were these former street kids embracing our wheelchair-bound guys. There is camaraderie in challenges- whether your challenge is getting off the street or learning to overcome your physical disability. The Streethearts kids listened intently as Sibille gave strict instructions about the protocol of pushing, dos and don’ts, and then released the teams of kids to climb the Citadelle.

Laughing, running (more like sprinting!), sweating, guzzling water, breaks in the shade, and then, finally, the top! Grins appeared on faces that we have rarely seen crack a smile. It was incredible to introduce these young men to such a significant piece of their country’s history. But it was also amazing to talk to people we passed about the abilities these four men have. Seeing people on two legs struggle up that mountain look with awe as they are overtaken by a man in a wheelchair did more for disability awareness than any signs or literature. Sometimes the best teaching is done by showing. We are so proud of these young men's accomplishment. Again, disability not inability.

Links:

• Find out more about the rehabilitation work
• Find out about our 'Cycle of Change Hand-bike Relay'