Why we exist

Elizabeth is an exceptionally bright young woman, now studying for a degree in Community Development at University.  When we met her she was unsure how she was going to manage with costs and accessibility. Just Wheels has found a private donor to sponsor her. Elizabeth explained that she was fully able until the removal of a tumour on her spine left her paralysed from the waist down - and since then she has been carried to school. Elizabeth says: "My wheelchair is the best thing that has ever happened to me". 

Omari is an absolutely gorgeous little boy with a shy smile.  We had some concerns about pressure sores on his feet and decided to visit him in his home, following which we arranged for him to go to hospital for urgent treatment where his sores were cleaned, dressed and he was given antibiotics. Omari is now getting his sores dressed regularly and Just Wheels is funding his medical care for the next year. Meeting Omari has made us realise the importance of providing parent care training for all of our beneficiary families. 

Idd is a very engaging young man with cerebral palsy who lives with his grandmother and attends Mwenge Primary School. When we visted the school we learnt that he uses a handbike to travel 2 km each way to school which takes him two hours.  Idd is clearly a very diligent and determined student, who spoke of his desire to complete primary school and get to secondary. 

Hawa lives with her grandmother, who had carried her all the way as the cost to transport the wheelchair was too much. We learnt later that Hawa's parents abandoned her aged 2 and she has lived with her grandmother ever since. Many of our beneficiaries live with a single elderly grandparent, in every case providing exceptional loving care in difficult circumstances and often in great poverty.