Children struggling to live with cerebral palsy in a poverty-stricken region of Kenya are benefiting from life changing equipment – thanks to a Shropshire/Mid Wales-based charity.
The Potter’s House Community Based Organisation whose representatives Cath Barton and Ruth Stevens are based locally in Shropshire and Mid Wales have spoken of the ‘desperate need’ for funding for 2024 to continue their support of children with severe disabilities in rural Njoro.
The charity workers told Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club that to date 114 children with severe disabilities have been provided with a total of 180 pieces of APT – paper-based technology – to make postural support devices that enable them to sit and stand.
Without these devices children of families struggling to feed them – as well as without the finances to seek help – would be unable to sit and stand and would be left lying on the floor or a mattress.
The solution, exclusively devised by APT Kenya, is the use of the appropriate paper-based technology to make pieces of equipment including chairs, standing frames and wheelchair inserts.
All the equipment is made from recycled cardboard, paper and flour-based paste. The charity uses a very sustainable concept because these materials are inexpensive and readily available.
In the UK a similar piece of equipment would cost nearly £2,000.
Some of the equipment was brought to the Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club by Cath and Ruth and members expressed their amazement at the simplicity, durability and strength. The items resembled wooden equipment, and were said to be as strong. So far, the project has delivered 180 pieces of equipment including seats, standing frames and wheelchair inserts to Kenyan children with severe disabilities, directly improving their quality of life and the lives of their families.
The charity employs local people to run the workshop and fabricate the equipment. This provides the full time employment of two local men as APT workshop staff to construct the devices; a tailor to make cushions, material straps and harnesses and “paperers” who are parents who need the wages to feed their family and pay school fees. In addition a Kenyan occupational therapist assesses the children.
Cath and Ruth told Rotarians the workshop is functioning successfully and to date 114 children with severe disabilities have been provided with APT equipment since February 2022. However, the Kenyan project costs £10,000 a year and the Rotary club was told the charity is looking for funding for 2024.
Cath and Ruth said the Welsh government ‘Wales Africa’ grants were highly competitive and they were unsure about continued funding.
For further information on Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club’s activities contact gdmw@hotmail.co.uk
