Help Kenyan children with disabilities into school

Hands Around the World sends professional volunteers for short secondments to the Special School at Athi. Our latest physiotherapy volunteer to Athi school returned just before Christmas and commented:

“I enjoyed working with the children and feel that I was able to be of help. This was particularly so for Erik who had not been able to walk, as he had had jiggers and had been off his feet for months at home. I was able to organise boots and crutches for some of the children. Parallel bars would have been a great asset. There had been some in the past, but I was told that they were broken and there was no money to replace them. The children enjoyed their exercise  sessions. I feel that I should have done more with them. Wheel chairs were in bad repair. I  was able to get wheels replaced before I left.”

HATW works in partnership with the Disability Community Centre in Maua, where there is a rehabilitation team who work to support chiuldren with disabilities within their own community; the children’s practical needs can be assessed and appropriate help sourced – as in Erik’s case. As children grow, their equipment has to be replaced to continue to be useful.

The DCC team can identify, assess and measure for the most appropriate mobility aids, either making them in their own orthopaedic workshop or working in partnership with local manufacturers to make and supply items to the correct measurements.

In 2013, we would like to raise funds to help to better equip the orthopaedic workshop. We would like initially to raise the sum of £500 to start this project. All the money will be targeted to the DCC – for equipment, staff training in practical skills and a contribution towards helping children of the very poorest families by funding the necessary mobility equipment.

The DCC works closely with the children attending Athi school; this project will provide practical help to ensure that the school children who need mobility aids are able to access them from the therapy team, and their physical needs will begin to be addressed.

Please consider making a contribution to develop this important facility which will benefit disabled children in the North Meru district around Maua town.