Free Wheelchair Mission/Walk-a-bout Foundation

In March of this year Diane and I had the privilege of assisting with the distribution of 53 wheelchairs in Kenya, Africa. After spending a few days on safari, we met up with the Free Wheelchair Mission and Walk-a-Bout Foundation to get to the real purpose of our trip which was giving wheelchairs to disabled children and adults. We started with playing a game called Sitting Volleyball. We sat on the ground and dragged ourselves around with our arms to serve and hit the ball over the net. We play with a team that is actually competitive with other disabled teams. It was interesting to see how their disability did not discourage them or slow them down. As able-bodied people we had a hard time keeping up. 

In Africa many tribes believe that a disabled person has a curse on them and they are shunned because of this. Friends will abandon them and families do not have the means to provide mobility for them so they are carried around when they need to go somewhere. We also found this on other FWM trips we have been on. Of the many people who received wheelchairs on this trip two people stood out to me.

First was a man, Harold, in his 70s who had lost the use of his legs. We had a difficult time communicating because he was from a smaller language group and our interpreters were not able to understand most of what he said. What I could understand was the joy in his eyes when he was given back his mobility in the wheelchair he received. He was one of many who came to receive wheelchairs that day after traveling 3 hours on a bus, then waiting his turn for the wheelchair, waiting until everyone on the bus received their wheelchair, and finally on the bus again to return home. It made a long day.

Another person who I will probably never forget is Eugene. He is a teenager who has cerebral palsy. His mother carried him in and laid him on a bench as his wheelchair was being prepared. It required custom fitting and trying on to make sure it fit him properly. The first time he sat in the wheelchair there was a calm that came across not just his face but his entire body. It was a joy to see such a transformation. When he was taken out of the chair for additional fitting he immediately began to struggle with his mom and you could tell his level of stress when way up. Upon completing the customization, he was put back in it and again you could see the peace and excitement in his smile. I asked his mom how this would change their lives and her comment was, now she could take him outside. In the villages of Kenya ever thing is done outdoors.