Spring 2012 www.iTOTinc.org
The Haiti Special Schools Project
On February 27, 2012 the first school program for children with special needs was started in Haiti in one of the poorest districts of Port-au-Prince at the Evangelical Church of Emmanuel. The pastor graciously provided a corner of the school room for the program while the other children in the school moved closer together to make room for the new class. Sixteen children with special needs and their parents crowded into that small area and slowly a class began to form as the Haitian teacher began working with her new students. On the first day, wheelchairs and walkers were fitted to the children that needed them while toys that were donated to the school came out of the box to be explored. On the second day, all of the children returned and the smiles from the parents told us exactly what this new school meant to them and their children. There were some big moments during that first two days including a child who walked for the first time but none was more profound then when the pastor and a volunteer stated that they were committed to having this program for children with disabilities at the school. These men had attended the pastor’s conference two weeks before and they said they now knew that children with disabilities were created in God’s image and that He loved them.
Evangelical Church of Emmanuel
The second school program was set up at the Hope Christian Church in Port-au-Prince. This church was newly constructed out of wooden beams, a tin roof, tarps and sheets. This building was filled when we entered with thirteen children with disabilities and their family members. Curious and perhaps skeptical looks met us the first day but were replaced on the second day by friendly smiles and greetings. The parents had watched their children blossom during the first day of school after being seated in a wheelchair for proper support, walking with walkers for the first time, exploring new toys, playing with other children, singing and learning. The parents were so grateful that they ended the second day with a time of sharing to tell their story and to express thanksgiving to the church and to God for such a gift for their children. The pastor told us that they have some families that will be attending the program that do not know Christ as Savior, at least not yet.
Hope Christian Church
These churches are the first of the partner churches in
Haiti to add a classroom for children with disabilities to their school.
The churches are reaching out to the disabled in their communities to extend God’s love.
What a blessing to be able to help these churches get their programs started! Our plan is to start four more classrooms in July and four more classrooms in September in other churches who have shown an interest in having a class for children with disabilities. The hard part is only picking a few at a time!
Meet Some of Our Kids
This is Mickelina our little star! She is 3 years old and has diplegic CP (her legs have muscle tone and movement problems). She worked hard with Erin in standing and with the walker until she was able to take steps on her own. You should have seen her mother's proud face! Mom had her walking in a circle for the next hour. I bet Mickelina slept all afternoon!
This is Benby. He is 13 years old and has Down Syndrome. He is a very sweet and thoughtful boy. He is very happy to be in school for the first time. I think he may be teacher's helper in a few week :)
The boy on the left is Samuel. He is 14 years old and has Muscular Dystrophy. He used to walk but can't anymore. He is a very sweet boy with a beautiful smile. I am so glad that he can attend school now. He will be a good "big brother" to the other kids. The boy on the right is Ricardo. He is 4 years old and has diplegic CP. He is a little firecracker! He is smart and mischievious. The teacher, Melrose, had better keep an eye on this one.
This is Gary. He is 18 and has a left side hemiplegia. He can walk but he had sores on his feet that weren't healing because he didn't have shoes. Sara and I looked for shoes for him on the streets of Port-au-Prince after school that first day but Sara didn't see any that would work well for him. The next day she put her own sneakers on his feet. I have never seen someone so excited to be getting shoes! He turned to everyone around him and in a very excited voice said, "tennies, tennies"! The kids in Haiti are so grateful for the things we often take for granted.
This is Jennifer in red and her sister Jenus. Jennifer doesn't walk yet at 2 but loves to try. She can walk with a walker or with her hands held. I think she could walk around the classroom all day if she had someone to help her. Her sister Jenus has visual problems but is always on the go. Their mom was so happy to be given a double stroller so she doesn't have to carry both of the girls when she takes them out. The girls loved playing with the toys. After they figure out how megablocks taste, I'm sure they will learn how to build with them too!
The school programs are being supported by iTOT and Connect 2 Ministries for now. Later we will help the churches start programs that will fund the classroom. This is being planned for next year. If you would like to make a donation to help support the classes, send a check payable to iTOT to 231 Adrian Court Lansdale, PA 19446.
Upcoming Outreaches for 2012
Guatemala (April 11-18) A family retreat with Joni and Friends providing therapy for the kids and training for the families and local therapists
Ghana (May 7-18) Providing training for Ghanaian therapists and working side by side with them in their clinics for practical support and training
Haiti (July 14-25) Adding four more school programs for children with disabilities in the church schools
Romania (August 26-Sept 4) A family retreat with Joni and Friends providing therapy for the kids and training for the families and local therapists
Haiti (September 21- October 3) Adding four more school programs for children with disabilities in the churches and providing additional training for the Haitian teachers
Ghana (end of October) Providing additional training for Ghanaian therapists and equipping the churches for disability outreach in their communities
I had the opportunity to speak with Rene (photo on right)
during the retreat. Rene is 20 years old
and was recently paralyzed in a car accident.
When I met with him and his mother, she told me that now he is useless
because he can’t walk anymore. She
wasn’t trying to be hurtful; she was expressing the feeling that many people
around the world have about a person with a disability. I was able to tell them that Rene can do things
that he did before the accident and that God has a special plan for Rene’s life. At the end of the retreat, Rene shared with
the group that he now understood God was in control of his life and has a plan
for him. He has hope for his future and
is learning to trust God. I feel so
privileged to have been a small part of Rene’s life this year. 
iTOT held its first workshop on wheelchair seating and
repair. The workshop was held in 
