Project: A.P.P.C.A.

Association for the support of people with cerebral palsy and motor disabilities

The situation of children with disabilities in Ecuador

I would like to make it very clear that the Ecuadorian social-worker has very few means at her/his disposal and can therefore distribute very little social-security money. This means that families with a disabled child must cope alone. As a result, scarcely any medical, therapeutic or educational support is available to them. In the country, people with disabilities are better integrated than in the city. They grow up in extended families, are often carried over long distances to school, where they take part in lessons together with children without disabilities, but without any provision for their special needs. In cities and urban areas, children with disabilities are either kept hidden or are put out on the street to beg. If the parents are not well-off and are unable to afford a private tutor to educate their disabled child (and those who can afford this are a very small minority), then the child receives no education and none of the needed medical and/or therapeutic treatment.

The history of A.P.P.C.A.

The situation described above led, in 1982, to the coming together of a group in Cuenca, a lively colonial city in the centre of the country. This group was concerned that children and young people with cerebral palsy and/or motor disabilities should be supported and given the chance to develop the skills they possessed to the full. In order to be officially recognized the group founded the association "Asociacion Pro-superacion de la Persona con Paralisis Cerebral del Azuay" in the same year, and this is registered as a legally recognized body. Following this, the Association opened an institute which has been in operation for twenty years, and which at the moment cares for 60 children and young people, five days a week, on a property of 2,500 m².
The support provided by the institute is very successful: every year several children can be integrated into ordinary schools; young people can complete their rehabilitation and take part regularly in the social life of the city of Cuenca.
Furthermore, the institute has developed work with parents (the only example of this in Ecuador) which helps the parents to develop their own orientation, to increase their willingness to accept that their child has special needs and to support the child's development. Finally, and of no less importance, the institute has made it an objective to work with the public for greater social acceptance in general of people with disabilities, thus for and their integration into society, with the same rights as those without disabilities.

The work of the Institute:

The Institute concentrates on the following areas: research; prevention; treatment; a school for the special needs and rehabilitation of children and young people with cerebral palsy and /or motor disabilities which enables them to develop their potential as fully as possible and thus extending extend their opportunities.

Points of special emphasis are:

The encouragement and development of research in the areas of: education; medicine; physiotherapy; occupational therapy; speech therapy; public health and related areas.
Developing human resources in these areas.
Maintaining contact with institutions which have similar objectives.
Providing information for the public about cerebral palsy and other motor disabilities.
Making integration into society, school, and work easier.

The financial situation

The Ecuadorian state is economically at rock bottom. As is the case everywhere else in the world, this difficult situation hits the weakest hardest. State and private support is in no way adequate; subsidies are irregular and donations have dropped because of the generally terrible and uncertain economic situation. As a result the Institute's deficit has risen rapidly.
The Institute needs U$50,000 annually in order to continue this project.

A vision for the future

Unfortunately, it has been established by the Institute that the young people who have completed their rehabilitation there are seldom able to find a work-place in the open market. Therefore the Association would like to create work-places which are suited to the special needs of its clients and which match their abilities. One possibility is the founding of an organic agricultural cooperative. Seeds could be acquired, seedlings cared for, vegetables planted and sold in the well-known market in Cuenca. A project of this kind would offer the most varied work opportunities for people with special needs and abilities.
To launch a professional project like this in Ecuador, the Institute needs a starting capital of about U$143,000.

Building bridges to Ecuador

As an honorary member of this Association I'd like to suggest building a bridge between Europe and Ecuador. I am setting up a foundation in Switzerland with the aim of supporting this project professionally and financially.

If you would like to read the original text in Spanish about this project (PDF-file), then click here: proyecto_appca.pdf

Please get in contact with me if you would like to support the project (info@aiha-zemp.com)

Become professionally involved

As a surgeon or orthopedic surgeon (e.g. once in a while operate gratis in Cuenca)
As a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or speech therapist, make an exchange with the Institute and offer further education.
If you want to do community service: do your service at the Institute
If you are looking for a period of practical work experience: arrange an exchange here

Material support:

The project needs not only money but also medicines, clothes for children and young people, and a computer.
The first priority, however, is financial support. When the foundation council has been nominated, we will open a foundation bank account in Switzerland, to which you can transfer your donations. You can at any time get information from the foundation council about the use of these donations. As honorary member of the Association in Ecuador I will present accounts on how the money is used to the foundation council in Switzerland.

Back to: Projects