Treatment for 100 youth with disabilities in Congo Photo Gallery

The Kinshasa brace shop staff

As all of IPVRC's brace-crafting technicians are themselves former beneficiaries and brace-wearers, they not only understand the importance of a good fit and the difficulties of their clients but provide useful role-models to these.

Club feet correction

IPVRC handles many cases of club feet correction each year. Without treatment - which for this age group must be surgery followed by bracing and close follow-up - these kids would walk awkwardly and in considerable pain for the rest of their lives.

Dancing at the IPVRC rehabilitation home

Congolese are famous all over Africa for their love of music and their dancing skills. IPVRC youth are no exception. Visitors are always surprised to see that the kids know all the latest dances and are so good and so confident.

Afternoon soccer at an IPVRC rehabilitation home

IPVRC local staff, most of whom also wear braces, help new beneficiaries to feel confident and unselfconscious about participating in such activities as soccer. IPVRC kids play every day and have a team that often plays against non-disabled youth.

Unselfconscious brace wearers in Kinshasa

Proud of their orthopedic equipment, these boys asked for this picture to be taken. Some IPVRC kids have now formed a "shorts wearers" club with the goal of showing fellow beneficiaries and non-disabled persons alike that one needn't feel ashamed.

Some satisfied young beneficiaries

These children - all of whom are polio victims - could get around only on their hands and knees before IPVRC provided surgery, casting and braces. IPVRC has also covered their school fees so as to increase their opportunities for social integration.

Different afflictions, similar success

Sylvie (left) suffers from spasticity as a result of a bout of meningitis, while Sarah had polio as an infant. Both are now quite mobile, however, using braces and canes. They are good friends and support each other at school.

A graduation class

These boys, who had previously been forced to crawl on the ground, all learned to walk at the same time, encouraging each other along the way. Helping each other comes natural, and is a very prominent feature of the IPVRC rehabilitation homes.

Life-changing differences

Tudu (left) has said that he used to look like a "monster." Now he suffers no shortage of prospective girlfriends. Kafu is good at mathematics and rapidly becoming a computer whiz.

More "before" and "after" contrasts

Vangu (left), who previously lived on the street with his homeless grandmother, is now going to school where he is consistently rated top in his class. Lacking money to obtain treatment and equipment, Mashila had to crawl to school for many years.