HANDREACH
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December 1, 2012
I am currently in my fourth year at Northeastern University studying Human Services. I got to know about HandReach in last spring semester at a panel that was held at my University. When I heard about HandReach, I knew for sure that I wanted to be in Beijing that summer.
My professional experience thus far has been focused on helping and educating a large population from diverse backgrounds and with varying needs. Moreover, I have an extensive background working with children as a teacher as well as a mentor coordinating effective programs and providing services to improve lives of others. So when I found out about the volunteering opportunities at HandReach, I wanted to give my contribution there helping and encouraging kids to have hopes and future.
Despite the fact that my Mandarin level was very poor, I still got around pretty well and was able to communicate with other therapists. I tried taking Mandarin class in advance but I’m not going to lie, it’s a challenging language! However, with my outgoing personality, I didn’t have too much problems forming friendships with children and my coworkers at the rehabilitation center. I was there to organize and coordinate activities for children as well as making sure the children are happy when they’re not receiving painful treatment.
My volunteering experience in Beijing this summer was beyond amazing; I was able to truly open my eyes toward burn victims and really think about how I can help these population. Because I have so much experiences with direct work, it has helped me to better understand the program aspect of business because I've seen the impact of these programs. So after working at HandReach for one month, if I ever do get the opportunity, I want to focus helping out in the administrative aspect of the organization in the future. I want to learn more about how funding is managed, and how this human service organization functions as a whole.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Some
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Okay
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
November 2, 2012
I have worked with HandReach for several years; I traveled on two different trips to China to do cross cultural work with medical providers in two hospitals with wings devoted to burn rehabilitation. I have never seen a group bring such joy! Through a combination of trained medical exchange, music and play therapies, and training in basic child life, we were able to overcome language barriers to promote a set of best practices within this international community.The children we served directly, and the doctors, therapists and nurses we trained, were grateful and enthusiastic participants in the exchange--I can say that I learned a great deal in terms of my own application of occupational therapy techniques, but I also was able to make connections with families and children, and make lasting, low-tech recommendations to families who need them most. It's a wonderful nonprofit that has been around for over ten years and deserves your support!
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Quite well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
November 1, 2012
This past summer (2012) I went to Beijing to conduct some research in the burn ward at the China General Air Force Hospital. Handreach (and especially the Director Dr. Brecken Chinn Swartz) helped to set up the study by introducing me to the head of the burn ward, assisting me financially by hiring translators, and offering background support for navigating the political aspects of the social waters of China (Visa's etc.). While the research is specifically intended to help burn survivors in China, without Handreach's support none of it would have been possible. I was able to use the staff that was hired for me to effectively reach out to every one of the patients who was in the hospital's burn ward (at least those who still had some means of contact available) in order to gather information for my study and hopefully be able to organize a burn survivor society of some sort. In my experience, there are two ways to see China: the first is to just go and spend money. This is the typical "tourist" experience and tends to lead to a number of consequences usually devolving into people who don't ever wish to go back because they've been thoroughly routed by the local scam artists (of which there are quite a few). However, I had the second experience: a professional journey into Beijing where I was able to work with actual professionals in the field of medicine and see the typical life lived daily by China's citizens. The second was much more pleasant and there was a lot more to be gained during the process. I hope my study will be able to help those burn survivors in need, but I can definitely say that it wouldn't have been possible without the work and efforts put forth by Handreach.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 31, 2012
I was an active member of the Hand Reach Beat Brigade for over a year. Beat Brigade is a program that uses group hand drumming as a therapeutic process to aid in the emotional healing, physical therapy, and social development of trauma survivors. The effectiveness of the Beat Brigade method was evident with every practice session and open drumming session I attended, as I witnessed (and personally experienced) attendees with varying levels of physical and/or emotional distress begin to relax, open up, brighten, become engaged, and end the session in a very different place than where they began. I did not have the opportunity to go to Beijing with Beat Brigade and other Hand Reach team members in July of 2011, but the stories - and photos! - they brought back were amazing! I am so impressed by the Hand Reach mission and the passion of its founder, Dr. Brecken Chinn Schwartz, and by how great an impact Hand Reach has already had in the first few years of its existence. Brecken has such a powerful vision for Hand Reach, and the energy, enthusiasm, and pure joy she brings to her work are both infectious and inspiring. She has attracted and motivated quite an array of talented collaborators, ,who share her commitment to the Hand Reach mission. An investment in Hand Reach is a guaranteed investment in a powerful and successful healing organization.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Quite well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 31, 2012
I am new to HandReach within the past year, and the group' mission - serving severly traumatized children - is one of the most rigteous and courageous of any non-profit Ihave ever known. t is a spiritually rewarding experience to be involved with this group!
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 31, 2012
Our first experience with HandReach was to help them by hosting Shiwei, a Chinese toddler, and his mother for a couple of month. Shiwei had been severely burned as an infant when his blanket caught on fire. For us, it was life-changing to witness first-hand the critical impact that HandReach had on the life of this innocent small child as they helped him come to Boston for surgery at Shriners. Our connection with HandReach took hold and we have since seen several adorable yet badly injured small children achieve the hope of a normal life thanks to HandReach. With its committed volunteers, HandReach is making a real difference in the world.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 30, 2012
Thanks for the opportunities that allowed me to work with the most adorable burn survivors in China! Handreach has accomplished an incredible journey with limited resources thanks to the leadership and hard work by every volunteer. There is much more to do to reach to those little hands who are reaching for our help. Please help Heandreach in every way you can. Thank you!! Physical Therapist, volunteer , Li Li
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Quite well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 30, 2012
Hand Reach is like coming home! This inclusive organization, founded by Dr. Brecken Chinn Swartz, "reaches" out to burn victims (and others) and gives them dignity, empowerment, an outlet of healing, connection and community. Health related organization are so important, because you don't feel so alone in your situation. Please volunteer with HandReach and you'll help in more ways than you know.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 30, 2012
Handreach is an organization founded by a great, courageous,loving woman, who sacrifices and strops at nothing to help and give those in need from the goodness of her heart, and for absolutely nothing in return, but the smile on the faces of those in pain. She is Dr. Brecken Chinn Swartz. An organization inspired by one of the most courageous young women on earth, Jolene Chinn Swartz, Brecken's adoptive Daughter, who despite her injuries, pain , and physical challenges was able to adapt to a new society, a new country, a new language, and become a happy successful college student, with bright future. I had the honor of knowing Brecken and Jolene personally, I admire their courage and spirit of giving, and urge all who read this to donate to this noble cause, and always believe that any donation to such cause is never money wasted, as God's reward to you will be much greater.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 30, 2012
Handreach really has taken on an unbelievably challenging mission of providing medical care in a field that disproportionately affects the poorest people who are least able to afford it. Burn and amputee care is very important and there aren't enough options available to the survivors of trauma in many parts of the world. Handreach gives them hope to recover, rehabilitate, and live full lives after a horrible tragedy. Handreach's patients truly are survivors, not victims. I've had the opportunity to work with this charity and go to China to witness firsthand the impact of the rehabilitation, care, and support given by Handreach's excellent team of doctors, nurses, and other volunteers. The children's lives are truly transformed and you can see a tremendous change in their attitude as they are given a second chance at life.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Likely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Quite well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
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