Give burn survivors access to rehabilitation

Helping burn rehabilitation specialists in India 7

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, we are helping this local organization address an unmet need: provide comprehensive physical and psychosocial rehabilitation services for women burn survivors after hospital discharge.

From August 10 to August 28 2015, Sunshine Foundation welcomed three interns from our partner in Chennai, the International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC). During three weeks, Sajitha (Social Worker Supervisor), Jayanthi (Welfare Officer) and Anandhi (Rehabilitation Assistant) attended theoretical courses and practical trainings, as well as observed the services of Sunshine Foundation.

One of the trainings that particularly resonated with Anandhi was on image enhancement, and more specifically skin camouflage. For burn survivors with visible scars, the process of accepting one’s changed appearance can be difficult. Since launching its image enhancement services in 2002, which include fashion consultation, social skills training and skin camouflage, Sunshine accompanies burn survivors on the road towards building self-confidence.

As a burn survivor who went from being a “client” of PCVC to joining as “staff” of PCVC, Anandhi is acutely aware of the process of adjustment that women burn survivors must go through when dealing with a changed appearance and she was able to immediately appreciate the potential of skin camouflage in helping the women she works with rebuild their self-confidence. Special makeup techniques and products not only help reduce the appearance of scars and skin discoloration, but can also help reshape lips or eyebrows affected by scars, thus reducing visible difference that can otherwise lead to anxiety and distress when having to face others.

During a two-day training, Sunshine staff explained the concept of image enhancement and allowed the PCVC team to experience the skin camouflage consultation process, with the first model being Anandhi herself. Under the guidance of Sunshine staff, Anandhi was able to try out skin camouflage techniques and see the result on herself. She was amazed that her burn scar suddenly became less visible: “It’s like I regained my former face, the one before the accident. I want to take back these techniques to India and help our women burn survivors also find their former face again.” When came time to take a picture, Anandhi, who usually turns her face sideways to hide her scar, instead confidently faced the camera.

Thanks to your support, Sunshine is able to continue providing trainings which introduce techniques that can be used to help women burn survivors rebuild their self-confidence. And now, during GlobalGiving’s Bonus Day on September 16, you have the chance to maximize the value of your support because GlobalGiving will be matching gifts made to Sunshine Foundation at 30%. This means that your donation of $100 will receive a $30 match!

We invite you to support Sunshine Foundation’s efforts to help improve burn rehabilitation services in low-middle income countries by donating to our project "Give burn survivors access to rehabilitation"

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/train-burn-rehabilitation-professionals/

Mark the Bonus Day date on your calendar!!! We encourage you to make your donation early, because matching funds will likely run out before the end of the day.

Taiwan time: from Wednesday, September 16 at 9:00 PM to Thursday, September 17 at 11:59 AM.
US time: from Wednesday, September 16 at 9:00 AM EST to Wednesday, September 16 at 11:59 PM EST