International Programs

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The Polus Center assists people with disabilities in developing countries to become valued members within their communities. Our programs emphasize community-based rehabilitation, self advocacy and community inclusion.

Polus began working internationally in 1997 in Nicaragua and we have now expanded to Ethiopia, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico. These collaborative efforts have resulted in two community-based prosthetic outreach projects, an accessibility project, a disabilities leadership center, a regional wheelchair manufacturing project, and a series of capacity-building mini-grants to local organizations and individuals. We use a locally-based, holistic approach to insure that project beneficiaries are the ones driving services forward and broad support is created in the community where they live.

Rehabilitation Services

Our Approach - Our Community-Based Rehabilitation Services are based on program planning processes that involve local citizens from diverse backgrounds and center around the inclusion and empowerment of the service recipients. More »

Walking Unidos - Walking Unidos is a prosthetic outreach program & clinic in Leon, Nicaragua that was founded in 1997. More »

Vida Nueva Prosthetic Outreach Program - Vida Nueva works in Choluteca, Honduras, to provide affordable and accessible rehabilitation services. More »

Social and Economic Integration

The Death Trains Reintegration Project More »

Albanian Landmine Survivors’ Assistance More »

Wheelchair Outreach Project More »

Ethiopian Self-Empowerment Project - A capacity-building project for grassroots disability organizations is under development in Addis Ababa. More »

Mobility Access Project - "A City for Everyone" is a physical and social effort to provide the disabled community access to the resources needed to be included in society, overcome poverty, and enjoy full participation in community life. More »

Ubuntu Association of Zambia - A project to close the gap between persons with disabilities and the overarching services providing for health and HIV/AIDS care, education, food, and economic opportunities in the community. More »

Spiny Lobster Divers with Disabilities along the Mosquito Coast More »

Leadership Development

Disabilities Leadership Institute More »

Volunteer Projects

The El Porvenir Project - The current goals of this project include building a new school and expanding the children's food program for the village of El Porvenir, Nicaragua, which was devastated by a hurricane and severe droughts. More »

Solentiname Friendship Group - The Solentiname Friendship Group is dedicated to improving the living and working conditions of the people living on the Solentiname Islands of Lake Nicaragua. More »

Links to Articles

"Community-Based Rehabilitation Program Design and Implementation in Central America"
by Michael Lundquist, Journal of Mine Action, November, 2004, published by the Mine Action information Center at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

"The Challenge of Prosthetic Services in Developing Countries"
by Michael Lundquist, Journal of Mine Action, December 2002, published by the Mine Action information Center at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

“Missed Opportunities: The Need for Landmine Survivor Rehabilitation in Rural Areas”
by Stephen Meyers, Journal of Mine Action, November 2004, published by the Mine Action information Center at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Los Programas Internacionales

El Polus Center ayuda a gente con discapacidades en los países en vías de desarrollo para mejorar la calidad de vida y lograr su integración a la vida familiar, social y comunitaria. Nuestros programas dan énfasis a la rehabilitación basada en la comunidad, auto representación, y la participación comunitaria.

Polus comenzó trabajando internacionalmente en 1997 en Nicaragua y ahora hemos aumentado nuestros programas a Etiopia, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, y Méjico. Estos esfuerzos en colaboración han resultado en dos proyectos comunitarios de prótesis, un proyecto de accesibilidad, un instituto de liderazgo, un proyecto regional de la fabricación de sillas de ruedas, y una serie de pequeñas becas para organizaciones locales y a individuales. Creemos en usando un tratamiento holístico con un enfoque comunitaria para asegurar que los beneficiarios del proyecto son los que mueven los servicios y los que reciben el apoyo en la comunidad donde viven.

Los Servicios de Rehabilitación

Nuestra Filosofía - Nuestros servicios de rehabilitación basados en la comunidad enfocan en un proceso de planeamiento que incluyen a ciudadanos locales de procedencias diferentes y que está centrado por la inclusión y la independencia de sus recipientes. Más »

Walking Unidos - Walking Unidos es un programa y clínica de prótesis en León, Nicaragua que fue establecido en 1997. Más »

Vida Nueva - Vida Nueva trabaja en Choluteca, Honduras para proveer los servicios de rehabilitación disponible y accesible. Más »