Give burn survivors access to rehabilitation

Helping burn rehabilitation specialists in India 4

Sunshine Foundation initiated a three-year cooperation project in 2013 in Chennai, India to help a local organization set up a Care Center for women burn survivors. By training their staff in Chennai and holding internships for them in Taiwan, as well as providing continuous support through monthly online meetings, we are helping this local organization address an unmet need: provide comprehensive physical and psychosocial rehabilitation services for women burn survivors after hospital discharge. For the April 2014 site visit in Chennai, the team of Sunshine professional was accompanied by Gina Lien, a burn survivor from Taiwan, who was a “volunteer reporter,” helping record the trip through stories and pictures.

This was my first trip to India. I remember how surprised my friends were when I told them I was going. In order to prepare for this trip, I read a lot of documentation prepared by Sunshine Foundation to understand the situation in Chennai but as they say, seeing is believing. Only when I landed in Chennai did I truly understand how far away I was from Taipei, in every aspect possible.

Because this is a three-year project with PCVC (International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care), our site visit was to review work done over the last year. The Sunshine team was extremely happy that within only four months, PCVC was able to implement so many changes. Thanks to a presentation made by PCVC on the first day, we were able to appreciate how fast they set up the Care Center and how, from a loose work organization, they now use clear work division, standard forms and procedures, as well as meetings to provide better services.

Although this was my first visit to PCVC, I could immediately sense the camaraderie that exists between the staff. And based on the rapidity with which they implemented changes after their return from the internship in Taiwan, I could also sense their enthusiasm. The enthusiasm of staff working as a team will not simply emerge with one word or one command from their CEO, staff themselves must have the desire to improve their team work to benefit burn survivors. I was touched when I learned that one of the social workers was willing to stay after work to try to address the needs of burn survivors staying at the Center. This willingness of staff to empathize with burn survivors is extremely precious and should not be taken for granted.

I remember the first day we arrived at the Center and were welcomed by the burn survivors. We played with them games and everyone laughed so much. In the evening at the hotel, as I was writing the day’s report, I began to wonder if the burn survivors realized that I was like them or if they thought that I was a staff member from Sunshine Foundation? This question crossed my mind because I am a very optimistic and outgoing person, and socially-speaking, you can say that I am a burn survivor who has adapted extremely well. I’m not a burn professional, I cannot provide direct services to burn survivors but my hope before going to India was to give them emotional support. I have no way of knowing for sure if they felt it, but from the first day we met and weren’t familiar with one another, to the subsequent five days during which everyone warmly greeted one another, the smiles on their faces tells me that they most probably did.

I have to say that there is still a lot I don’t know about India. But on this trip, I have learned that no matter where you go, you must respect other cultures, open up your heart and broaden your perspective. You shouldn’t limit yourself to what you know, but instead embrace different experiences, as well as challenge your habits and your comfort zone. I’ve also learned that while we are sharing our experience with others, we must also empathize with their culture, their background, etc. That’s how cooperation can be more harmonious. At various levels, I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to join this trip, live this experience and learn from it.

Your support is crucial!

Your donations make it possible for Sunshine Foundation to share its expertise with other burn professionals in the world. Now, thanks to Bonus Day on July 16th, your donation can achieve even greater impact. During the July 16^th Bonus Day, GlobalGiving will be matching online donations made to Sunshine Foundation at 40%! This means that a US$100 donation will result in a US$40 match!

Bonus Day begins at 9:00 am EDT on July 16th, 2014 (time in your city) and ends at 11:59 pm EDT (time in your city) on July 16th, 2014. There is $130,000 in matching funds available, so be sure to make your donation early.

Online donations of up to $1,000 per individual donor per project are eligible to be matched at 40%. In addition, the organization that raises the most donations on Bonus Day will receive an additional $1,000 from GlobalGiving. This bonus prize is determined at 11:59 pm EDT on July 16^th.