CIREC is one of the leading organizations working with Colombians with disabilities in the country and even Latin America. Their facilities are state of the art and innovative. I was very impressed by the “Walking Room” where the floor was wired to tell where pressure and tension is being put in walkers’ legs. There are also lasers which track the walker’s steps to measure stress. The goal would be to help walkers to develop “normal” strides or learn to walk with a prosthetic with greater ease and comfort.

CIREC creates prosthesis and orthesis products on site. They also showcase a museum of old prosthesis some of which the owners rigged themselves with what materials they had. It was so interesting to see how far technology has come.

Dedicated to a healing the whole person, CIREC offers services that go beyond the physical. They have social workers and psychologists available for patients as well as a job development program.

CIREC is a International Committee of the Red Cross model organization for countries in conflict. Living up to this level of distinction, CIREC really encapsulates the psycho-social approach with its Seeds of Peace program which it co-sponsors with Survivor Corps. This program to respond to the needs of persons with disabilities and more specifically to landmine and UXO survivors. It seeks bio-psychosocial (which I’m still learning about) recovery to improve quality of life of this population and help it achieve its reintegration into society. The Seeds of Hope program is implemented in 5 provinces and 23 communities in Colombia.