Monday 28 July 2014

Dipo receives a new wheelchair!

Some of you may have seen the short video we posted on Facebook or the photo on Twitter a few days ago which showed young Dipo getting a new wheelchair. It’s had a great response, so we thought we’d share with you how it all happened…

When the Roding Valley High School team was over a few weeks ago, we went with a few of the children from Greater Joy School to visit their homes. It was at one of these homes we met Dipo and his family.

We heard that when Dipo was four years old he caught malaria and got very sick. Since then he has been unable to walk and unable to talk. He is now seventeen years old. Dipo is taken care of by his Grandmother as sadly, but not unusually, both his parents have died. It is clear to see that he and his Grandmother have a very happy relationship, when she comes near him his face lights up!

It’s not easy taking care of Dipo and getting the support they need. On most days for the past few years Dipo has been sat in a contraption that is a plastic garden chair set in a metal frame. It once had wheels but they have long stopped working.



All of the Roding team who met Dipo were moved by his story and wanted to be able to help the family in some way. A wheelchair was top of the list, but we didn’t know how we might get one. A couple of days later, just before the team were heading home, we heard that a container had arrived for another organisation and that in the container were some wheelchairs. After a phone call or two and with the generosity of the Roding students, Dan went to pick up Dipo’s new wheelchair.

So, this week we went to Dipo’s home and delivered the wheelchair to him this was the moment the Grandmother received the news!



And this is the moment Dipo was wheeled outside for the first time in a very long time:



Even though I am writing this a couple of days after it happened I am still moved as I recall the moment Dipo came outside; the smile on his face, the happy noises he was making, his Grandmother’s obvious delight and the celebration from friends and family! Life for Dipo has changed.

To the Roding team, in the words of Dipo’s Grandmother “Thank you, you don’t know what you have done.” 




And in case you missed the video, here it is! 


Tuesday 22 July 2014

An update from Zambia

Being here for a longer amount of time means I get to do things I don’t always have the time to do on shorter visits. With the teams gone, life is a little less hectic for us here in Zambia now.

I’ve had time to hang out with my colleagues, Dan and Melissa (and their boys), and time to catch up with each of the schools reviewing the past few months and looking ahead.

In those conversations when we think about the future for the schools and communities it can sometimes be overwhelming thinking about how far we still have to go with the schools, and how much resource it will take to see those things happen. Thinking of doing it all alone can be daunting!

So it’s great to connect with people who want to journey with us in some way. This trip I’ve met a mix of people; individuals, organisations and businesses, who make the future look less lonely:

  • A local South African lady who has lived here 13 years and has a heart for her local community turned up at one of our schools offering to support the feeding programme there.  Within the week she had organised providing and serving a nutritious lunch one day a week. She hopes to get more of her friends and church involved in the weeks ahead.
  • Over the weekend we were introduced to a Kiwi who is working with other community schools in the area. It was great to share ideas and we plan to visit each other’s schools early next week.
  • We’ve continued to be connected with another organisation who also have a craft social enterprise here in Ndola. Again it is so encouraging and helpful to share our experiences.
  • Next week we’ll be meeting a large craft business/enterprise that has been working in Zambia for many years. We’re looking forward to learning from those who have gone before us!
  • And finally, before we fly from Lusaka next week we will be meeting the Public Relations Officer of a large Zambia based corporation who have supported us in the past and are keen to continue this relationship in to the future.


The saying, “together we’re stronger” really does apply when it comes to seeing transformation in the communities we love here.