Ethiopia has come out of many years of conflict with effects on their economy and the number of physically challenged in country. An estimated 70,000 died in the conflict. Many others lost their legs, arms, or hands. Without a simple prosthesis, this loss can be devastating to an individual and their families. A father without an arm might not be able to find work, making his whole family suffer. A child without a leg cannot walk to school, hindering their chance to contribute to the future of their community. Economically the country has not been able to take care of the the many disabled population such as from the results of polio, cerebral palsy and clubfoot. 

This is our opportunity to change lives and help build peace in Ethiopia.

Who We Are

We are Orthotic and Prosthetic (OP) and Occupational Therapy (OT) students of Loma Linda University. We are going to Ethiopia and invite you to help fund our work. The OP Outreach and Service Learning Program is embarking on a service-learning trip to serve patients in war-torn areas. We are assisting veterans and children who may have lost a limb during the war, as well as children with developmental and physical disabilities who have limited access to therapy and orthotic prosthetic services.

Trip Projects

We have planned several projects for the two weeks we are there.

•   Local Practitioner Training. The main focus of service learning is to train local practitioners to better serve their communities while giving student opportunities in a different environment, to practice skills learned. By offering our knowledge and expertise, we can advance the OP and OT fields within this region. Though we are treating individual patients, by cross-sharing knowledge and expertise with local clinicians, we expand the capacity to impact these professions into the future.

•   Design and build functional long leg braces. We will be teaching the OP professional to take locally available components and materials and adapt them to provide a higher functioning devices. This will help patient with polio to walk more efficiently allowing them to save energy for other purposes. 
  
  
•   Night Time Scoliosis Treatment. Idiopathic scoliosis is a condition of unknown cause that hits mainly girls around puberty.  If it goes untreated the spinal curve can get so bad that they will have breathing and other health affects the rest of their lives. If treated in a timely manner immediately the curve can be stopped from getting worse. The usual treatment is to wear a brace 23 hours per day until they are fully mature which is usually by the time they are around 18 years of age. This is a difficult age for any girl to wear a brace anywhere in the world due to the fact that body image is so important at this age. This is even harder in countries like Ethiopia where the stigma of disability takes on religious connotations. Our team will be teaching a night time only brace technique that will have better acceptance by these girls as they will not have to wear it during the day, but can wear it only in the privacy of their own home at night.

•  Aqua casting update. Last year we taught the OP professionals a new casting technique that provided a better and more consistently fitting prosthesis in a shortened amount of time. These year we are able to bring them and upgrade that will the impression be even more accurate for the patient.

•   Prosthetic limb training. Occupational Therapy students and faculty will work together with Ethiopian practitioners and OP students to provide physical training for persons who are receiving prosthetic and orthotic devices. This will help them to be prepared to use the devices in meaningful and every day activities.

•   Services for children with developmental disabilities. OT students will also work in partnership with Ethiopian professionals who serve children with developmental disabilities. In this capacity, we’ve been requested to provide training addressing sensory based and psychosocial difficulties. The aim of this training is to promote the ability of children with special needs to participate in their communities and to engage in activities which nurture their self-esteem

Funding Campaign

Help us broaden our impact. Between students contributing for their flights and other sources of funding we have already raised 60% of the funds needed for this mission. This PureCharity campaign covers the remaining $20,000 needed for logistics - hotel, food, driver and van, in country flights for the whole group, and the guide who makes all the arrangements including creating the work opportunities with local Ethiopian partners. Any extra funds raised will be forwarded to future service opportunities organized through the OP Outreach and Service Learning Program.

Bring Healing to Ethiopia

The end of the Ethiopian-Eritrean war opens a new chapter for the region. Help us heal the wounds of war, make man whole and advance the fields of orthotics and prosthetics and occupational therapy in a place with high need. Your support will multiply our efforts to restore individuals and strengthen communities. We invite you to build peace through service to patients. We want to be part of the solution by serving and inspiring others in Ethiopia and here at home.

Inspiring Students for Future Global Service

The students benefit from the opportunity to taste what service is like in Developing Nations and to inspire them, once qualified, to serve through our sister institutions around the world and other non-profit organization helping to meet the huge global need for rehabilitation.

Your tax deductible donation will provide the resources we need to serve more people. Thank you for your support.

Check back often for updates about our fundraising campaign and our trip. Share this page to show your support for LLU students uniting with the leaders of peace in Ethiopia.

Follow along on Instagram and Twitter as we as we progress:

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