DENPASAR, Bali (BPN/PR) – Hands with Heart, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people with disabilities, has carried out a new mission this February to continue its medical and educational program on the island.
Established in 2016, Hands with Heart initiated its mission in Bali, and its current program includes two missions per year with international volunteers, as well as Indonesian volunteers since 2022, thanks to an agreement with Dhyana Pura University.
Founded by Dr. Jorge Aranda, Hands with Heart is an international volunteer program involving osteopaths, physiotherapists, and optometrists committed to providing support and care to people with disabilities worldwide.
Throughout its journey, Hands with Heart has formed partnerships with local communities in countries such as Costa Rica, Argentina, Romania, Ukraine, and Indonesia. Presently, the foundation is active in nine countries.
Hands with Heart’s objective is not only to provide medical assistance but also to educate the community about the importance of inclusion and compassionate care for people with disabilities.
Dr. Aranda, President of the Foundation, emphasizes the importance of providing continuous support to people with disabilities.
“We not only aim to provide temporary relief but also to build strong partnerships with local communities to create sustainable change,” he said.
“By educating and empowering families and communities, we hope to create an environment where every individual is valued and has the opportunity to thrive.”
With its presence in Bali, Hands with Heart is committed to continuing its mission of supporting people with disabilities and promoting inclusion and equal opportunities for all individuals.
As a Foundation, Hands with Heart operates an international volunteering program since 2016, gathering students, junior, and senior professional therapists from around the world to provide healthcare services and treatments, primarily but not exclusively through manual therapies to children and young adults in need.
Through strategic partnerships, innovative programs, and community engagement, Hands with Heart strives to create a world where every individual, regardless of their ability, can thrive and fully contribute to society.
“Implementing this mission is not a task we can do alone. We need the support of professionals, even communities willing to come together to achieve this goal. We have also collaborated with various universities, such as Dhyana Pura, to train their students on how to deal with this disability. We believe that a small action will stimulate an impact in many hands afterward,” affirmed the President.
Moreover, the 42-year-old Spanish doctor, licensed with Honours in Osteopathic Medicine from Westminster University (UK), Master in Pediatric Osteopathy (UK) and PhD (USA), is also a tenured professor at the University of Murcia and gives lectures at prestigious universities in Australia, Italy, the United States, etc.
For this reason, the foundation expresses his happiness to further develop in 2024 an academic collaboration with Dhyana Pura University in Bali, aiming to implement a new approach for patients with physical disabilities.
“As part of our agreement, and having previously conducted a masterclass with practical cases in 2022, Hands with Heart now conducts a workshop to introduce basic osteopathic clinical approach to Physiotherapy students of all courses (1st – 4th).
“This is a great event where our international group of osteopaths gathers to share their knowledge and guide local students through the application of different manual techniques during the practical part of the workshop.”
For him, learning together is the best way to grow in the same direction and ensure the sustainability of the organization’s Health program for children and adults with disabilities on the island of Bali.
“We provide the tools and knowledge so that local healthcare professionals can further develop their clinical skills for the benefit of those in need,” concludes Dr. Aranda.
