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GLOBAL MASSAGE OUTREACH "Our goal will be fulfilled if there are no kids left in that orphanage." Shukhrat Arifdjanev, Medical Teams International ALL THE WAY TO UZBEKISTAN When the people of Uzbekistan gained their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the most vulnerable members of society suffered most. "The invalids, the senior citizens, the children. During the years of the Soviet Union, everything was provided through the government, from birth through pension, including school and then being placed in a job," says Shukhrat Arifdjanev, Eurasia program manager for Medical Teams International (MTI) and a native of Uzbekistan. "After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it all disappeared." Today, volunteers from MTI— including massage therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and medical doctors—routinely visit an 320-resident orphanage in Tashkent, the capital city. "Most of them—75 percent—have simply been abandoned because of the economic situation," Arifdjanev says. "Many of these children are disabled." The children, many with cerebral palsy, spinal deformities, mental disabilities, and autism, were largely warehoused. With ratios of 45 children per each caregiver, there was little in the way of rehabilitative services offered at the orphanage. But since 2006, volunteers have been taking time away from their private practices to pay their own way to Uzbekistan to offer help to these children. "The children have become more alert and healthier," Arifdjanev says. "We've changed their world view. When we do rehab with them, we're not only concerned about the medical piece, but the social as well. We play games with them. We do extracurricular activities with them." The volunteer therapists have also Partial scholarships are available for therapists with financial need. For information, contact Medical Teams International at www.medicalteams. org or 800-959-4325. Before: This is Oleg. He is nine years He was confined to his bed for nine ye with no activity. begun working with the caregivers— and, when they could be found, the parents of the children—to teach them rehabilitative techniques. "Maybe, with the success of this program, one day parents will get to take their children home," Arifdjanev says. "Our goal will be fulfilled if there are no kids left in that orphanage." MTI, the same organization that sponsor's Ingram's trips to Moldova, annually sends two to three teams of volunteers into Uzbekistan, a nation of 27 million, roughly the size of California, that borders Afghanistan to the south. In 2008, the group received a $5,000 community service grant from the Massage Therapy Foundation to help defray travel expenses. Travel costs to Uzbekistan typically range from $1,500–$1,700. Expenses for a two-week stay in the country average under $300. "So for $2,000, one person could change many lives," Arifdjanev says. After: Here is Oleg demonstrating how h learned to walk. See how he has grown. Additional trained care givers made this possible. connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 63 Episcopal Church with a ministry among the homeless in Denver. She has a commitment to do justice, love kindness, write with conviction, and walk humbly with God. Contact her at killarneyrose@comcast.net. Rebecca Jones is a deacon in the Medical Teams International - Uzbekistan hanage #1, Tashkent, Uzbekistan for Disabled Children housed 320 disabled children ages 4-18. The building was rotting, with broken windows, plumbing and down our faces. The children had not been diagnosed and had no health care or rehabilitation. They as one care giver for every 30 children. ovation of he children. This is the same room pictured above with the boys. Everything is new! Heat, windows, ventilation, floors, walls, ceiling and lights. Here are the boys seeing this space for the first time. Note the smiles.