THE MOBILITY PROJECT The Mobility Project is a non-profit organization headquartered in Colorado Springs , CO . Our mission is to “bring hope, dignity and independence to people with disabilities throughout the world”. We collect used wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, prosthetics and other medical supplies throughout the United States . The equipment is refurbished and donated to individuals with disabilities in countries such as, Mexico , Costa Rica , Afghanistan , and El Salvador . Our goal is to distribute wheelchairs to impoverished people who do not have the hope of ever owning one. In addition to distributing wheelchairs, we teach the recipients what they can do with their new mobility by hosting recreation and sports camps where we teach a variety of sports including tennis, basketball, baseball, etc. WHERE WE WORK In 2004 we will be in Afghanistan , El Salvador , Costa Rica , Uzbekistan and Mexico . Volunteers are needed to come and assist us with these distributions and sports camps. Volunteers will learn how to adjust the wheelchairs so that they fit the person correctly. WHO WE HAVE MET In the past three years I’ve spent 10 weeks each year outside of the U.S. I have met some incredible people and heard some awful stories. It makes me so thankful for living here in the States where we have so much. Below are the stories of a few people we have worked with. Maribel— Costa Rica Maribel had polio and is 43 years old. She looked just like a quad and I began talking with her before she received her chair. Two volunteers needed some help with adjusting her new wheelchair, so I helped them. We usually ask a series of questions to find out more about the recipient. When we asked Maribel how she gets around her house without a wheelchair, she looked at the men seated around her and began to cry, then said shamefully, “en mi trasero”—on my bottom. Here is a woman who has known no sense of dignity or independence her whole life. Our mission statement was fulfilled in giving her this chair! Sayeed Baha— Afghanistan Sayeed was paralyzed in 2000, at age 80, when he was beaten repeatedly by the Taliban. César— Costa Rica César attended the sports camp. He is a quad, like myself, and was convinced he couldn’t play tennis. I showed him how to tape up and he played the next three days. He won an award for the most improved player at the camp. He is sitting in the new chair he received to replace an old, heavy one. Can you see why we love doing this? The look on his face says it all. When this family got in the truck to leave, they took this boy out of the chair. He started crying, thinking he wasn’t going to get to keep the chair. For additional info on The Mobility Project go to their website at http://mobilityproject.org/. You can also contact The Mobility Project by mail or phone at: The Mobility Project 6314 Cripple Creek Lane Colorado Springs, CO. 80919 Phone: 1-800-818-8846 Fax: 719-590-1495