Orphaned children who can’t walk, bend their arms or use their hands will get much-needed physical therapy during spring break, thanks to a partnership between the University of Central Florida and the Florida Hospital Foundation. Thirteen UCF students studying physical therapy went to Kingston, Jamaica, where they spent a week treating children with special needs living in orphanages.

“These children have likely never had physical therapy before,” says Jennifer Tucker, a UCF instructor accompanying the students abroad. “We will be providing some therapy, but more importantly, we will be training those who take care of them so they can continue to get care after we are gone.”

Students learned of the trip while taking Tucker’s pediatrics physical therapy course at UCF. The trip was not a requirement, Tucker says, but many students saw it as an opportunity to give back to the community. UCF students have traveled to Jamaica to help orphans for the past four years.

They are part of an ongoing partnership with the Florida Hospital Foundation outreach program SHARES International. The nonprofit organization helps coordinate the trips and provides some financial support. However, the students were responsible for the plane fare and were not paid for their services.

Source: UCF