Mark Archibald and his son in front of one of the chicken coops.

AT the age of 25, Mark Archibald, of Seafield Berbice, with a lifetime ahead of him, had his world turned upside down twice in his lifetime, which is more than what some persons had to deal with in their lives.

Seventeen years have passed since an unfortunate accident which claimed Mark’s sight and not only darkened his days, but also his spirits.

Mark found himself stranded both literally and figuratively, and he walked through the doors of the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Centre looking for help.

It was here that his life once again took a major turn. This time, however, for the better.

Mark had loved swimming, cricket and hanging out with friends and neighbours; but while serving as a member of the Guyana National Service in 1986 he was involved in an accident that left him blind in one eye.

Six years later, and after being forced to leave the Army because of his disability, Mark lost vision in his other eye, leaving him completely blind.

After losing his sight, Mark recalls isolating himself from the rest of the world.

“Life was sitting on the verandah and coming in the house and then going to bed,” Mark said.

He also said, “I didn’t do anything around in the house or out in the yard because I thought people would look at me funny.”

As he continued to cut himself off from the rest of the world, his house began to deteriorate and the money situation at home was getting tough.

He noted that most hurtful was the inability, as he saw it then, that prevented him from supporting his wife Judy and their five children both financially and emotionally.

Mark in his role as chairperson of DPO.

“I remember in 2000, Judy and I were stranded in Georgetown on our way home to Berbice and looking for help to get home I walked through the door of the CBR headquarters on Carmichael Street where Gregory Glasgow, chairman of the National Committee, greeted me,” Mark said.

He stated that in addition to assisting him, Mr. Glasgow gave him information about CBR and told him there was a regional unit in West Coast Berbice.

“Interested in learning more, my wife began attending meetings and training sessions for CBR volunteers, but was soon forced to quit as no one in the family had a job at the time; so I decided to pick up where she left off after encouragement from my neighbour Iris Cully, who was also a CBR volunteer,” Mark said.

“Iris would tell me about CBR and how to develop my abilities,” Mark said, ‚nd she told me that just because you have a disability you don’t have to sit at home.”

Upon visiting the CBR unit in West Coast Berbice and regularly attending different activities, Mark found himself coming out of his shell and returning to the outgoing person everyone knew him to be.

“These meetings changed me and I realised that there was nothing people with disabilities could not accomplish and that there were so many things I could do to assist me and my family,” Mark related.

Following this realization, Mark started going out of the house more often and began helping out with chores such as tending the garden and sweeping the yard.

Mark Archibald doing a little gardening in his yard.

He noted, “I was excited to do things and CBR helped me to understand that I should not to sit there and forget about life, since life has more to offer me; so I started doing all the things I did before.”

With a new attitude towards life he began to investigate CBR’s Income Generation Programme that gives financial support to members for building micro-enterprises.

I decided to do chicken rearing. Feeding and taking care of chickens was a way to help myself.”

So with a $60,000 loan, Mark and his wife purchased chickens and feed and began selling seven-week old chickens.

A courageous feat it was since they did not know much about chicken rearing. But they learned quickly and soon paid back the loan.

After the first batch of chickens, Mark invested money into building materials to repair their house, providing an added comfort for his family. With a thriving business and a comfortable home, Mark continued to work, increasing from 100 to over 150 chickens.

“I give CBR the highest credit since I could assist my family life and take us out of poverty. It changed my role as a father. The children recognised that I could assist in the economic and spiritual life and I could get things done in cooperation with them so they could eat properly and be educated properly.”

Mark continues to develop his chicken rearing business with the assistance of Judy and their children. But he did not stop at that.

Following an appeal to the Office of the President for funding towards the construction of a much needed nursery school In Seafield, West Coast Berbice, Mark assisted in accessing funds and soon enough the money had been realised.

“The nursery school was completed early in 2007, and it has ramps for persons with physical disabilities so that no one is left out, “ Mark said.

With opportunity and support from CBR and its members. Mark made the decision to live a productive and prosperous life.

“There are so many things I’m involved in and so many things I want to do. Mark recalls that to date another significant accomplishment in his life is his position as Chairperson of the Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) where he coordinates many of the activities that the CBR centre in Seafield undertakes.

“With help from Jason Makepeace, a volunteer who assists us to learn about fund-raising and coordinating activities, I have learnt much and hope to expand the centre’s work as we continue together to promote the rights of disabled people,” Mark asserted.

The CBR centre in Seafield now caters for over 30 individuals, instilling in them confidence and the sense to go on.

Mark notes that most of all was the vast change that his life had undergone, and looks forward to greater things to come in 2009.

By working hard, Mark accomplished what most think is impossible. He stuck to his resolution to become better, and he did.