The Story of TCHH

Since January of 2003, hundreds of volunteers from Canada have travelled with teams across the globe. In Haiti alone, volunteers of medical and support professionals work throughout the year to provide ongoing training and therapy across the country’s sparse rehabilitation providers to address the ever changing needs of people with disabilities.

More than 20,000 pounds of rehabilitation equipment and supplies have been transported with teams, each individual bringing up to 100 pounds of equipment per trip. Additional cargo shipments including a sound proof booth (for testing hearing) have been transported by sea. Thousands of pounds of wheelchairs, seating products, and rehabilitation equipment are also sent to support the work of our seating teams. Team Canada works with local organizations and has established ongoing partnerships with local resources, charities and community programs in every area where we work.

Team Canada Healing Hands Inc is a not-for-profit, registered Canadian charity, dedicated to the provision of rehabilitative education, training, and care in areas of need. Volunteers are medical professionals and support personnel who work year long fundraising and organizing projects that typically culminate in 1 to 4 week intensive missions internationally. Since 2003, volunteers have travelled to more then a dozen countries and delivered thousands of presentations throughout the world. Based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, volunteers have participated from every region of Canada, and even the United States and Europe. Many volunteers are “repeaters”, with most having done 3 or many more trips.

During each trip, volunteers both teach and assist in providing care in rehabilitation clinics, prosthetic and orthotic clinics, speech language and hearing clinics, hospitals and orphanages, as well as teach courses in rehabilitative therapy, aural rehabilitation, public health, care and specialized medical/educational topics. Our volunteers have included professionals and students from all walks of life with experience in or an ability to support Rehabilitation Medicine and Education. On the ground, evenings and weekends are spent preparing equipment and programs for the coming days, participating in cultural events, team debriefings, and learning about our host country.

Your interest and support is what keeps our organization active. We continue to progress our services and travel to new communities in need.

Thank you for helping us with our journey.

 

Dr. Colleen O'Connell

Founder of TCHH

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