Emmanuel's Gift

Item as described, Fast Shipment. Great supplement for 5th grade classroom goes with picture book Emmanuel's dream.

Emmanuel's Gift is a gift that all people can cherish. Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah is a genuine man with little education but an incredible ambition to help other disabled people overcome the stereotypes and misinformation spread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and around the world. He approached life as a simple man with a simple request: Give me a Bike and I will do the rest! And that he did! I met Emmanuel in Ghana in 2001 while serving with Hope for Life Handicapped Brother's and Sisters House of Hospitality in Accra , Ghana . Emmanuel came in one day with a request, not for money or even food,but a bicycle so that he may ride across Ghana showing able -bodied people what disabled people can achieve on their own. Being he had only one functional leg, the result of childhood Polio, it was an interesting request to say the least. After discussing his request, I pointed Emmanuel to the Challenged Athletes Foundation , based in San Diego, California. The Challenged Athletes Foundation not only sent him the bike and other items, they followed him on his trip throughout Ghana. Later, they sponsored him to come to the US to compete and receive surgery to amputate his bad leg. They then fitted him for a prosthetic which he now uses to compete without the aid of crutches. Mr. yeboah has become quite the inspiration to disabled people across Ghana, the US and the world over. As the husband of a disabled Ghanaian, I whole-heartedly recommend this video to those who want to be inspired to feats of great strength and courage.

It was one of the lowest points of his life... This is when Emmanuel connected with his true deep-down all-encompassing thirst and hunger to achieve his ultimate core desire - Emmanuel wanted to make life better for all of the disabled in Ghana.Emmanuel decided to make it happen. His first project: Show everyone what a disabled person could do - Emmanuel was going to ride a bicycle across Ghana!What an incredible success story!This is a touching story which I actually first found as a DVD movie at our local Hollywood video store as I was browsing for something worthwhile to watch (that is such a chore these days).After I had seen it and was moved to tears, I set my whole family down to watch this inspiring story together.After renting it, I came here to Amazon.com to purchase this DVD because it is a keeper!As Oprah Winfrey said, "I think every parent should go take their children to see this movie because it will change the way your children think about what they can do and can be."As a happily married father of six I wholeheartedly agree!

I originally watched this in a sociology class and loved it. While watching it I knew I was going to make sure our boys watched it. As an adult with a sense of personal responsibility I was often annoyed in such a class which seemed like a lesson to learn excuses for not making it in any situation in your life, so I was surprised to be exposed to Emmanuel's Gift in such a setting. He overcame insurmountable odds instead of submitting to them and living the rest of his life with his list of excuses ready. Emmanuel stands tall for all of those who would let anything in life hold them back. At first I was tempted to compare him to others in the past who have made non-violent commendable efforts toward social change but then it hit me that he deserves better than that. Let us add Emmanuel and his story to that list of household names; comparison would cheapen his life and efforts.

Would have rated it a five star for impact! We watched it with our grandchildren ages 5 and 7, stopping it along the way to explain and answer their questions regarding disabilities in general and what they were observing in the film. They were mesmerized by what they were seeing and by the courage and perserverence which Emmanuel demonstrates. At times it is hard to understand and moves at a clip which required us to replay many sections in order to follow. Highly recommend for helping children become more comfortable with special needs members of their community. Emmanuel's commitment to use what was given to him to overcome his own limitations and in turn use his gifts for the benefit of others is an invaluable lesson for all of us and especially for children in their formative years.

Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah shows us in this film what it means to confront fear, obstacles, and challenges, and overcome. This man, in spite of being born without one full leg, being abandoned by his father, and cast aside in a country where the disabled are shunned and ignored, decided on one course of action. And that was to become the best he could at whatever God put in front of him. He redefines what it means to be disabled and let things get in the way of becoming the person you want to be. Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern have given us a lovely and inspiring portrait of a unique man. All of us so blessed with opportunities and unparalleled blessings would do well to watch, learn, and be humbled. The Free Wheelchair distribution scene Emmanuel organized for the people in his own home town is some of the most disturbing and touching video you can watch. Emmanuel long ago stopped thinking of himself. His heart is so outwardly focused that his example can only make us better people ourselves.

This is an unforgettable DVD, a true story. We take our lives for granted in the United States. Emmanuel, born with a birth defect, was abandoned by his father. Life in Africa was rough for people like him. The only thing he could do was beg in the streets for his living. Emmanuel was not satisfied with that. He wanted more. He had physical goals and he was going to achieve them. The movie showed how he reached his goals, and improved life, not only for himself, but for all disabled in his country. This is one DVD that I know I'll watch over and over when I hit a snag. After all, I don't have any problems...

The clips on You Tube suggest a great film. Sadly I can't play the film on my DVD player as it only works in the USA.

Lucky breaks coupled with strong altruistic intention make for this success story.

very touching story , really loved it