Rob (on the right) with some of his trainees in Haiti

We’re delighted to introduce you to our latest guest blogger, Motivation training consultant Rob Mattingly. We asked him to blog about his recent trip to Haiti and he kindly obliged. So here’s Rob…

“The security advisor gave us a brown envelope containing a mobile phone, emergency top-up voucher and $100 cash to be kept on us at all times.

The instructions in the event of being kidnapped were to hand over the mobile as a means of communication between the hostage takers and the ransom payers.  In this way, the French Embassy and Special Forces would be able to locate our position using the phone signal – all very reassuring.  We weren’t allowed to walk on the streets and had to phone in our vehicle number and driver’s ID at the start and finish of every journey.

I’d never been briefed on kidnap scenarios before. But then I’d never been to work in Port au Prince, Haiti before either.

I was there to run some training with Motivation for Handicap International (HI).  HI is an aid organisation supporting disabled people in many countries around the world.  In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, HI has established a rehabilitation centre in Port au Prince.

Seven-year-old Jacques had spent his whole life lying down

One of the services offered by this rehab centre is a wheelchair and supportive seating service. My co-trainer Lauren and I were there to train staff in the clinical skills and knowledge needed to support children with cerebral palsy.

We covered how to assess clients and how to prescribe, assemble and fit Motivation’s supportive seating products – the Moti Start and the Moti Go. Between them, these two seating products provide postural support for infants through to teenagers.

One of the children who came to the training to benefit from the seating service was seven-year -old Jacques, who has cerebral palsy. We discovered that Jacques had spent his whole life lying down, unable to walk, stand or sit. He has never been to school.

Jacques being fitted for his life-changing Motivation Moti Go

A team of course trainees assessed Jacques and assembled a Moti Go to give him exactly the right support. Immediately Jacques was able to sit upright, make eye contact with us and – most importantly – become mobile.

Jacques is now able to move where he wants, when he wants – independence for the first time in his life.  He will now be able to attend his local school.

At the end of the fortnight Lauren and I were able to return our emergency dollar stash unopened. We left with a much more upbeat impression of Haiti and some happy memories.”