LOREWO

Local Rehabilitation Workshop

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Activities

The Workshop

A rehabilitation workshop can be established in either an existing or a newly constructed building and will be the base for the provision of assistive devices and associated services, the training of local personnel and the launching of local awareness.


Lorewo Workshop building at Freedom House in Bulawayo.

LOREWOs are equipped with the appropriate tools, machines and devices in order to perform services according to the local needs.
 
The main services provided are:

• the provision of assistive devices
• the repair and maintenance, adjustments and adaptations of assistive devices
• local manufacturing and assembly of selected assistive devices (wheelchairs, tricycles etc.)

Existing LOREWOs are situated such that they are linked to existing health care services in order to facilitate for local availability of the services. Workshops can be located at the site of a hospital, a centre for user organisations, a rehabilitation centre, an NGO or at the site of other appropriate institutions.
 

Local availability of assistive devices

Workshops facilitate for the local availability of wheelchairs, walking aids and other assistive devices suited to varying existing, local technologies and economic conditions. The workshops also make spare parts available for repair and maintenance.

Supply of assistive devices is ensured through:

• local manufacturing of assistive devices
• donations of appropriate  second-hand assistive devices
• a combination of donations, local assembly, local manufacturing and purchasing
   

Capacity building

Capacity building is major component of the LORWEO Concept. Its importance is centred on encouraging people with disabilities to participate in the society. The main target groups are the LOREWO staff, organisations of disabled people, professionals in the field of rehabilitation and professionals in the ministries.

The capacity building activities concentrate on:

• raising of awareness on disability issues
• providing knowledge about assistive devices and rehabilitation services
• training and developing human resources
   

Training

Creating jobs and independent living for people with disabilities are among the main objects of the LOREWO concept.
Training emphasizes the principle of learning by doing and hands-on experience. Local personnel are trained according to the principle of adapting assistive device to the person with a disability, not adapting the person with a disability to the assistive device.
The basic training activities consist of:

• technical know-how and skills
• adaptation and practical use
• the principle of service delivery

The LOREWO teams are trained by occupational therapists and technicians from SINTEF and regional Technical Aides Centres in Norway. In addition some of the team members are trained to be wheelchair technologists at TATCOT Training Centre in Tanzania.

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