If the Wheelchair Fits . . .

 

The staff at Faraja Primary School strives to teach the students how to take care of themselves (to the best of their individual ability). This is so important, both for life after Faraja and for the children's self-esteem.

 

Because so many of Faraja's students use wheelchairs, physiotherapist Emil Mhina has created a wheelchair user club as part of this goal of helping the children do for themselves. He sent the message below to give everyone a better idea about just one of the ways he supports the students at Faraja.

 

As a physiotherapist, I am responsible for making sure all the kids who need wheelchairs are given an appropriate wheelchair and maintenance. To accomplish that, I attended courses that offered training in how to provide appropriate wheelchairs and cushions to people who have mobility impairment and trouble sitting upright.

 

Due to the significant number of wheelchair users at Faraja, I created a wheelchair user club so that the students who are using wheelchairs can get support by discussing wheelchair skills and knowledge, as well as some of the difficulties they encounter. Through this club, I also trained them in wheelchair maintenance skills so they can maintain them at school or at home. 

 

Thank you, Emil, for your dedication to transforming lives at Faraja every day!  

Class 7 Spotlight

 

Saluting our Class 7 students during their final year at Faraja

It's an exciting time for our Class 7 students as they prepare for the PSLE (Primary School Leaving Exam) and graduation in October. We're featuring John and Emmanuel this month.

 

John comes to us from Songambele, a rural region of northeastern Tanzania. He has a form of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia that affects the left side of his body making his muscles chronically stiff, preventing him from walking. Physical therapy at Faraja has helped to reduce the severity of his symptoms. 

 

John is the youngest of three children in his family. He is very bright and enjoys playing games with his classmates. Someday, he would like to have his own small business.

 

Emmanuel has osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease). He comes from Chomvu Village which is located on the southeast side of Kilimanjaro, near the Kenya border, and is one of three boys in his family.

 

Emmanuel is bright, outgoing and confident. He is full of spirit and his peers see him as a big man on campus. When Emmanuel grows up, he would like to be an engineer.