I am physiotherapist of 25 years and an assistant professor with the Physiotherapy Progamme of the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University. I teach in the Northern Studies Stream, a satellite of the school that takes 12 students at a time to Thunder Bay to duplicate academic classes followed by a clinical placement in the north. I had the pleasure of having Julie Hard as a student in the early stages of planning her placement in Kenya. Through her connections I included a working visit with Mr. Okidi [the therapist who runs the Disability Service Programme] in a family trip with my husband and 3 children the following November of 2003.

We lived with Mr. Okidi and his family. I spent my days helping out with physiotherapy assessment and treatment of disabled children in his care. My family accompanied us or spent their time working on a local Habitat for Humanity building site. We were overwhelmed with the strength and resourcefulness of the Kenyan people to accomplish amazing things with very meager resources. At the same time we were also amazed by the material and resource rich existence we experience in our western lives. Seeing how little it took to make a significant difference to enabling these children to reach their maximum potential and fulfill their dreams had a profound impact on all of us.

We came home with a commitment to tell the stories of these wonderful people and raise funds for further treatment through the Kenyan Working Group. The effect on my children has been ongoing. My seventeen year old daughter just returned from 4 weeks in Rwanda doing development work with orphans of the massacre.

A door of insight, gratitude and global responsibility is a wonderful gift no matter what your age.