BuffEnuff® Helping Empower Youth Employment in Africa

There are far too many social problems in the world people often complain about and do little to solve. However, that is not the course Northbrook chiropractor and business owner, Dr. Warren Bruhl, follows in his care of the world. Author, philanthropist, charity director, pilot, and social change engineer are just a few words, Bruhl uses to describe himself. Always looking for a way to help improve people’s lives, Bruhl recently launched an innovative youth empowerment program in Kenya, East Africa. Bruhl noticed there were far too many youth who were asking him for scholarships and money for school fees. Since education is not free after eighth grade, many youth are unable to go on and even receive a high school degree and a university degree is virtually impossible for people who earn just a few dollars a day. Thus, Bruhl began initally sponsoring young players who played baseball in the Little League program he started there called Mt. Kilimanjaro Little League. But he realized this growing problem would not be solved by seeking sponsors to assist the youth, they needed a way they could earn their own money pay for the education each of them prized.

For some, the goal was not education, but skills like driving, welding, carpentry, and mechanics. Healtcare was often not an option some thought of, until Bruhl introduced the BuffEnuff® Power Massager to them and trained the youth how to use it. Implementing the simple techniques Bruhl created like Wrapping®, Drumming®, etc, the youth were able to acquire skill and knowledge to offer short, yet powerful percussion massages in the small town of Kimana, Kenya, where Bruhl is director for a primary school (elementary age children). Giving a five minute massage called “Revive in Five”, people paid only 50 shillings (about 50 cents USD) for the relaxing and invigorating massage. While Bruhl was not certain people unfamiliar with percussion massage would embrace the program or the youth giving them the massages, he was surprised by their response. Wanting to get some pain relief and relax from the stress poverty imposes, people were enthusiastic and ready to receive the care. Moreover, they appreciated a way they could give their youth employment and not a handout.

Future plans for this project are the opening of a small shop in Kimana that will offer the percussion massages daily along with health supplies, vitamins, natural health classes, and more. All profits from the program will be reinvested locally in the community and Percussion Fitness®, Bruhl’s company, will be donating their profits from sales of their percussion massager to help the youth. Further, Dreamweaver International will also co-lead and support the program with donor participation and encourage local Kenyan people to also take ownership in the success of the youth empowerment within the community. In the future, a youth sports complex is needed along with training facility for various trades and this project will make this along with other priorities identifed their goals. For more information visit www.percusionfitness.com.