It started out simply: Seven Highlands Ranch Rotarians went to Costa Rica in February 2016. They went there as part of a Give-a-Book project working with Peace Corps Volunteers in rural southern Costa Rica. While there, the Highlands Ranch Rotarians met members of the Belen Rotary Club. It was muy simpatico!
The Belen Club has a continuing special project providing wheelchairs to those in desperate need. These wheelchairs allow children to go to school and others to get out of their homes and move freely in their communities. Belen Rotarians were delighted to meet a potential sister Club in the US and the Highlands Rotarians immediately signed on to join the wheelchair project. One Highlands Ranch Rotarian donated $5,000 to help ship a container of 37 wheelchairs from the U.S. to Costa Rica.
In November, 2016, Highlands Ranch Rotarians Marion Trummer and Natasha Nola went to Costa Rica to help deliver these wheelchairs.
The Belen Rotarians organized the logistics, and most of the 20 members of the Belen club actively participated:
- The Club identified the recipients and got the specific requirements for each chair.
- Club members arranged the ordering, shipping, storing, assembling, and pick up of the wheelchairs.
- Five members of the Club helped distribute the wheelchairs.
Carl Dickerson, a Florida Rotarian who spends part of each year in Costa Rica, saw that the Rotarians needed help to get the job done quickly. He recruited the San Isidro Lions Club, Peace Corps volunteers and the staff of a rural health clinic. When the wheelchair shipment arrived in San Isidro from the US, these volunteers helped the Belen Rotarians assemble them.
The payoff came soon after when many recipients came to pick up their new wheelchairs. During the following week volunteers went out to remote villages and to the Bribri reservation for the indigenous people of Costa Rica to deliver the rest of the wheelchairs. Peace Corp volunteers acted as interpreters.
The joy in the eyes those who got wheelchairs, especially the children, made the day unforgettable. The team also brought books brought books to some of the rural schools, a rare treat for the teachers and their students.
The best part of this story is the kids.
Emmanuel is 7 years old and arrived with his mother in a borrowed wheel chair made to fit a 4 year old. He was all crunched up and could not propel himself. In his new chair, he could be “free.” Now he can go to school and get around without his mom pushing him. His adventure wheeling himself around the parking lot made everyone smile…and even caused a few tears.
Sherri arrived “riding piggy back” on her father. This is the only way that she can get around. She is 29 years old and has been unable to walk since she was 8. Her father carries her everywhere she goes, but he can no longer carry her for long distances. So even though she loves church, she has been missing it. Now she can easily get to church and also go to watch soccer games. What a great change in her life and that of her parents.
Katerina is 20 and she is blind. She arrived in a borrowed wheel chair that didn’t support her adequately. She has trouble holding her head up and her family had made a makeshift headrest for her. She also needed to be strapped in; this was done with scarves. Her new wheelchair has a halo for her head and proper straps to hold her in. Katerina has a beautiful mind and has had some education. Her dream now is to go to school and learn Braille so that she can help others overcome their disabilities.
This project does more than just provide wheelchairs to one person. When the chairs are no longer needed by the recipient, they are distributed to another person with mobility issues.
The Belen club has done this project for the last 12 years. Having seen the impact of the wheelchairs, these Rotarians are determined to continue it. More wheelchairs will change more lives.
And the Highlands Ranch Rotarians are committed to helping their sister club in their efforts, raising funds and continuing this cycle. Who knew that a small gift of books would be the start of a long-standing commitment to change the lives of so many Costa Ricans by giving the gift of mobility.
For more information, contact Highlands Ranch Rotarian Marion Trummer m.trummer@comcast.net 303-979-4636