Erica BOLAÑOS MORILLO ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ): Thank You
I consider myself lucky to have made my internship at the BASR, and this from both an academic and a personal aspect. Academically because as a human rights student, I was assigned to the CBR – Community-Based Rehabilitation Program, one of the BASR programs which aims to facilitate people with disabilities’ inclusion into society. At the beginning I had a language difficulty because, other than Arabic, English is the working language over there and mine was only in an intermediate level. Besides, I had made my studies in French and my mother tongue was Spanish, so for me it was a challenge which finally I think I coped well with the support of all the people in the office. They always cared about me and helped me to fit and to understand better the nature of their tasks and the Program’s running. Along with them I had the chance to meet people with and without disabilities who happened to have actual needs regarding disability issues; I realized the dimension of the lack of respect of human rights in this particular field; and I was able to match the knowledge acquired during my studies –which was theoretical-, along with the practical side through people’s disability experiences. This whole situation made me more conscious of the fact that between both theory and practice, there is a very big gap to fight and that that has to be done not only with words printed in paper (international instruments) but with the tireless field work of programs like CBR.
However I appreciate most of all the personal aspect. I will keep this experience deep in my heart because it has taught me through people I have met in many different contexts, that it is possible for human being to keep warm, authentic, noble and selfless after more than sixty years of constant outrages and deep suffering, and to keep dignity intact despite that. This is the best lesson I could have learnt because that definitely gives me back hope in humankind.
In both aspects I think I received more than I gave. I am deeply grateful to the valuable people from the BASR, the CBR and the all the villages I visited, because they contributed in different ways to make a better person of me.
Monday, 04 July 2011
Ian McNicoll ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ): Teacher
During my five weeks of teaching English as a volunteer at BASR I got to know many wonderful members of staff, as well as some of the patients at the hospital.
17% of BASR’s staff might be considered “disabled”, but I have seen for myself how BASR has deleted that word “disabled”, not only from its vocabulary, but also from its thinking.
BASR lives by the inscription prominently displayed at the entrance to its building, which states, “Every patient is first and foremost a human being”. Each human being working at or being treated by BASR is enabled, as much as humanly possible, to overcome physical or mental disability and live life to the full.
BASR is a place of positives, of “can do”, where they say “yes”, a centre of excellence, a beacon of light shining through the dark hours of Palestinian suffering.
May God continue to watch over you and bless you and all your work.
Friday, 12 August 2011
ALMIR ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ): HELLO
Just I want to say hello to my friends
Issam, Hoosein, Abu Khalid, Semir, Abu Rami...
I am Almir Krehic from Bosnia, and I've been in your center from 1994 to 1995.
Best wishes.
Sunday, 17 July 2011