First CBR programme in Haiti
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© CBM
Focus groups of beneficiaries and their families, community members and CBR team during the CBR training session at the CBR Centre 'Sant Kore lavi' (Centre for Supporting Life) in Carrefour (south-west of Port-au-Prince) on the 24th of June 2011
In February 2011, CBM launched one of the first rights-based community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programmes to ever be implemented in Haiti. The programme aims to ensure that people with disabilities are supported by, and within, their community. The key principle of CBR is the decentralisation of responsibilities and resources, both human and financial, to organisations operating within communities in order to create a collective response to the needs of people with disabilities.
Empowering people by enhancing cooperation
To introduce the concept of CBR, CBM occupational therapists conducted a series of training sessions in Carrefour and Croix-des-Missions, two districts of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince. During these sessions, 82 participants – people with disabilities (PWDs) and their families, community members and local and international organisations – were provided with the skills necessary to carry out CBR activities. For example, enabling them to identify and connect people with disabilities within their communities. Participants were also asked to encourage and engage other community members to participate in CBR activities.
CBM has established two CBR centres, one in Carrefour, a suburb south of Port-au-Prince and the other in Croix-des-Missions in north Port-au-Prince. Their objective is to promote social inclusion and human rights of persons with disabilities using the capacities of the communities and to mobilise local resources.
CBM has established two CBR centres, one in Carrefour, a suburb south of Port-au-Prince and the other in Croix-des-Missions in north Port-au-Prince. Their objective is to promote social inclusion and human rights of persons with disabilities using the capacities of the communities and to mobilise local resources.
The CBR sites
The community workers and community members chose the Creole name 'Sant Kore Lavi' for the two CBR sites. It stands for 'Centre for Supporting Life' and reflects the community’s belief that positive changes can occur with the support of everyone.
From Monday to Friday, ten community workers are present in the two communities, working in close collaboration with disabled persons organisations (DPOs) and local community leaders (priests, ministers, mayors, judges). Community workers identify PWDs in the communities and refer PWDs and their families to appropriate services, such as hospitals or rehabilitation centres depending on their individual needs. Another major element of their work is to mobilise the community to support people with disabilities by providing opportunities for development and growth of PWDs. CBR workers facilitate and teach the community to work together for the good of all, ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Presently, the CBR teams are developing activities in two main areas of the CBR Matrix - Health & Social.
Health – In the CBR centres and the surrounding communities, the community workers:
From Monday to Friday, ten community workers are present in the two communities, working in close collaboration with disabled persons organisations (DPOs) and local community leaders (priests, ministers, mayors, judges). Community workers identify PWDs in the communities and refer PWDs and their families to appropriate services, such as hospitals or rehabilitation centres depending on their individual needs. Another major element of their work is to mobilise the community to support people with disabilities by providing opportunities for development and growth of PWDs. CBR workers facilitate and teach the community to work together for the good of all, ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Presently, the CBR teams are developing activities in two main areas of the CBR Matrix - Health & Social.
Health – In the CBR centres and the surrounding communities, the community workers:
- Develop health promotion activities.
- Organise activity groups to promote physical and mental health.
- Loan mobility and assistive devices, including wheelchairs and crutches, to enhance the independence of PWDs.
Social – In the CBR centres and surrounding communities, the community workers:
- Set up support groups for parents who have children with disabilities.
- Organise groups of helping relationships and promote recreation activities.
- Provide individual psychosocial counselling with the help of URAMEL, a group of local psychologists.
Development of full potential
The implementation of the first CBR program in Haiti comes at a time when the number of people with long-term disabilities, who previously never had access to rehabilitation services, has increased after the earthquake of January 12, 2010. Through CBR, communities will eventually assist people with disabilities and other vulnerable persons to develop their full potential and participate in all spheres of activities of the society.
