Costa Rica sits comfortably nestled in between Nicaragua and Panamá in Central America. Tourists from all over the world arrive there each year to enjoy the beautiful beaches, tropical weather, and all kinds of other attractions. There, a young woman named Marjuri sits, with the splendor of the world surrounding her, and yet, because of her Cerebral Palsy, she is largely unable to fully engage with those around her and her environment…at least, not yet.
Jonathan Pelton, who has worked professionally in the special education field for 5 years, first met Marjuri during a trip to Costa Rica last year. “Here is a young woman, who has lived her whole life without the ability to walk, eat, talk, or do much else for herself, and yet she is so eager to share a smile. Her joy is in connecting with people, even though her capacity to connect is so limited,” he says. This simple fact helped to spur Pelton into action: it’s not that Marjuri can’t communicate, it’s that she doesn’t yet have the proper tools to facilitate communication in the same way many others do.
Marjuri’s family lives on an income of about $40 each month. Sadly, this means her family is unable to afford proper support for Marjuri to improve her quality of life. There is no specialized care, and not much in the way of extra support to help her live comfortably despite the Cerebral Palsy, which is a disorder typically resulting from brain abnormalities that result in impaired movement, vision, and hearing, among other complications.
Determined to help 21-year-old Marjuri take in the world around her, Pelton did some research on the technologies available to help those living with similar challenges. A wide range of products are available, the best of which, can cost $10,000. Pelton set up an initial goal to raise $1,000 that would buy an “eye-gaze communication device using a laptop computer, webcam, and open-source software.” The equipment would finally open Marjuri’s world, if even just a little. This “would allow Marjuri not only to talk for the first time, but access educational materials and connect with others through the internet,” explains Pelton.
Now, he is still working hard to bring these life-changing instruments to Marjuri. He surpassed his original goal by $250 at the end of January, but he is not stopping there. He has upped the ante with a respectable $6,000 goal. Anyone wishing to donate to Marjuri’s cause can do so through his new page here.
Although the road to change can be long, and indeed, frustrating and intimidating, Pelton offered some encouraging words: “I would like to encourage people to follow the voice of their heart, the one that urges you to connect with and care about others. As easy as it is to focus on the problems of the world, it does so much more good to think of the ways to help. This good not only touches those that benefit from your efforts, but fills your own life with a true source of happiness. Each of us has something special to give, and no matter how small that gift may be, it makes a ripple that will surely be felt by our one human family coexisting on this beautiful planet. “
It is certainly inspiring to see such motivated individuals put so much energy into benefiting others. What are you doing to change the world today?