VOA慢速英语2014 帮助乌干达的残疾儿童

 

Helping¹ Uganda’s Disabled Children Play 帮助乌干达的残疾儿童

Children love to play. Playing is how they grow and learn. But for some children, the idea of simple, joyful² play time can seem very far away. These boys and girls may look differently than others, and not be able to move around as others do.

A rehabilitation³ center near Uganda’s capital is working hard to change that. It is bringing together doctors, volunteers and donations from around the world. They have established the first and only center for treating disabled children in Uganda.

The center is called Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services for Uganda, also known as CoRSU. The people there are concerned about the abilities of boys and girls -- not their disabilities.

On thick grass outside the main hospital, a mix of current and former patients do something others may take for granted – they are playing. They compete in sports, play games and even perform silly dances. The theme of the day is simply – “Let Them Play.”

This is a rare event for children who are missing arms or legs, have physically⁴ deformities or suffer from trauma⁵.

The purpose of the event is to raise money for a new playground and sports field. Campaign organizers want to make the old playground into an area that is friendly to all sorts of disabled children.

Life for the disabled in Uganda is difficult. But for children it can be a shock some never overcome. Christine Tusiime is the principal physiotherapist at CoRSU. A physiotherapist often directs exercise programs for those affected⁶ by injury, sickness or disability.

Christine Tusiime talks about the problems facing the disabled in Uganda. She says that a disabled child may have trouble socializing or interacting with others. They are stigmatized⁷ -- meaning others look down at them.

“It stops them from playing like other kids, from socializing with other people. And usually when they tried to socialize, they are then stigmatized or called names depending on their disability… Of course from that, they tend to get low self-esteem, so they stop socializing and then they have psychological issues and challenges that come out from not being able to interact with kids their age, not being able to play, and generally not being able to go to school.”

CoRSU treats patients from all over Uganda, and nearby countries, including South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On the grounds of CoRSUr, there are areas where doctors can operate on patients. There also therapy rooms, housing and even a primary school.

Therapy can last from a few days to a few months. The treatments also involve support groups for parents and families. Sometimes even those closest to the child can have trouble understanding the disability.

The employees at CoRSU say they feel very good about their work.

Moses Dennis Kaweesa is a prosthetic technologist. He makes artificial body parts. He says he became interested in prosthetic development because he grew up with a family member who had lost a leg. He says children are some of his favorite clients.

Mr. Kaweesa says children learn to walk and even run quickly on artificial legs. He says the smiles and happiness of the children give him courage every day.  

CoRSU receives no financial support from the Ugandan government. It depends on donations. Most of the money comes from overseas. CoRSU earns extra money by providing medical services to the neighborhoods surrounding the rehabilitation center.

Words in This Story

ability – n., the power or skill to do something

disability - n., a condition (such as an injury or something resulting from disease) that damages or limits a person's physical or mental abilities

take for granted – phrase, to expect something to be available all the time and forget that you are lucky to have it

deformity – n. a condition in which part of the body does not have the normal or expected shape

trauma - n. a difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time

socialize - v. to talk to and do things with other people in a friendly way

stigmatized - v. to describe or identify as disgraceful; to describe or regard (something, such as a characteristic or group of people) in a way that shows strong disapproval⁸

prosthetics technologist - n. A medical profession who makes artificial body parts

artificial - adj. not natural or real : made, produced, or done to seem like something natural

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

3 rehabilitation   

n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位

参考例句：

• He's booked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.他自己联系了一家康复诊所。
• No one can really make me rehabilitation of injuries.已经没有人可以真正令我的伤康复了。

4 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

5 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 stigmatized   

v.使受耻辱，指责，污辱( stigmatize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was stigmatized as an ex-convict. 他遭人污辱，说他给判过刑。 来自辞典例句
• Such a view has been stigmatized as mechanical jurisprudence. 蔑称这种观点为机械法学。 来自辞典例句

8 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。