Table Tennis Provides hopes in Milot - Cap
21/03/10

Milot may not be the name of a town that trips easily off the tongue, mention the name and few can tell you its location.

However if you live in the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, in particular if you live in Haiti, the town is of vast importance.

It has become a haven, life saver with a special Earthquake Unit for children being established; many severely injured as a result of the disaster.

On Sunday 14th March 2010, the children had an opportunity to play table tennis; local man Pierre-Richard Granjean explained.

Enthusiasm
“About a dozen boys and girl with hands or legs amputated discovered table tennis and they enjoyed playing in spite of their disability”, he said. “Local young players have been very enthusiastic to play with their brothers and sisters.”

Hospitals Devastated
The Sacre Coeur hospital is the largest hospital in the North of Haiti.

“It is 25 minutes away from Port au Prince, where almost all hospitals have collapsed, hundred of earthquake survivors have been healed in Milot”, added Pierre-Richard Granjean. “Schools near this hospital have been converted into additional space for injured patients and families.”

There was a massive demand for table tennis when it was offered but Pierre-Richard Granjean had one problem.

One Table
He has only one table tennis table and all the children want to play like the professionals currently on view in the Max Schmeling Halle in Berlin at the German Open!

Role Model
Who knows but perhaps someone one day from Haiti might emulate the achievements of one player who is on duty in Berlin, Poland’s Natalia Partyka; the young lady who in 2008 competed in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Let’s hope the young people in Milot can take inspiration from Natalia; certainly she is a fine role model.

Enjoying table tennis in Milot.

Photo by Pierre-Richard Granjean


Ready for action, table tennis giving hope to Haiti.
Photo by Pierre-Richard Granjean

Donations
Grateful help from manufacturers and the wide ranging table tennis family is currently being afforded; however, help is still needed and donations can be made by bank transfer to the following account

International Table Tennis Federation
Account number: 243-467622.10V
Category: Goodwill Fund
Client number: 243-467622
IBAN: CH06 0024 3243 4676 2210 V
BIC: UBSWCHZH80A
Currency: US$
Bank: UBS SA, Case postale, CH 1002 Lausanne, Switzerland