No Fingers No School

In most developing parts of the world, it is really hard for children with disabilities to access education and in most cases this has affected their future and their independence negatively. Children with disabilities are usually denied their right to education by claims that their disabilities are more severe.

However, during my ministry activities I met a parent who has a child with a deformed hands (she had no two fingers on both hands). The girl was of school going age but she was not allowed in any school due to her mild disability. As I was in a casual conversation with her mom I asked her why she was not in school and she told me "no fingers, no school for my daughter". (Our ministry is doing a follow up to make sure that she joins school).

Happy New Year..... Real Transformation

Happy new year friends,

This is the beginning of another great year, it is my hope that you will have a great one.

Three years ago like today during a disability community outreach I met Bakari a boy with hydrocephalus. His parents were scared about the condition and they thought he will not make it, from  home visit we managed to get him medical  and rehabilitation support that has transformed his life.

Three years down the line Bakari is all grown up and has just joined kindergarten and Day Spring school at Youth with A Mission Base. This is real transformation that gives me hope. Please pray with me as I pursue this cause.


PS: The above picture is of Bakari before and afterwards.

Regards from Tanzania

Mentoring Young People with Disabilities in Kilimanjaro

There is nothing as hard as growing up without understanding yourself or even worse finding means of skipping the hurdles that life presents. Living with spina bifida was a challenge for me before I met someone who I could journey with.

I however, thank God because I found one mentor who journeyed with me and in the same way I was able to mentor young people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in Kilimanjaro through CCBRT Moshi

 

It was an inspiring and fun moment as we learnt together about our basic rights as people with disabilities, life skills and basic information on spina bifida and hydrocephalus. We had class lessons, group discussions, fun evening and inspirational movie night.

 

As I was leaving the young people were happy and full of positive energy than I found them.

 

Keep praying with me friends!

Reality for Children with Disabilities

July has been a tremendous month full of activities for (Wezesha Kupaa) disability outreach ministry in Mwandege Tanzania. With a team of friends and volunteers, we managed to do disability awareness, advocacy and medical home visits. The most inspiring one was when we met Ruhaina. Two years ago when I met her she was not going to school... no school could accept her due to her brittle bone (condition), from the efforts of our ministry Ruhaina is now attending a mainstream school and with support from a special education teacher she has been able to integrate well and she is happy and comfortable with other pupils.

The most heartbreaking home visit that I did last month was when I did a random check with Ali a boy with cerebral palsy... I heard from one of the neighbors that there was a boy with disability who was hidden and badly neglected. That evening I made a point of visiting their house and what I saw was tragic. Ali was on lying on a section of bed covered with a plastic bag... his face was in direct contact with plastic bag that he could have easily choked from lack of sufficient air, he had been there the whole day without anyone to look after him. Taking a close look I realized he was severely malnourished... It took me awhile to find out where his parents were.... that's when I realized he had been neglected by both parents and he was living with his old grandmother who was struggling to raise him all by herself. I thank God because we found a children home where he was taken in. This is the reality that children with disabilities are living in. That is all for today! Keep praying with me friends.