Wheelchair handover brightens lives of children in Hibberdene
Others have disabilities due to muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy.
Operation Jumpstart Association (OJA) delivered seven brand new wheelchairs and much needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to the little ones at Indlu Yokuphephela (Home of Safety) near Hibberdene recently.
“We understand the significance of the wheelchairs in the community.
Not only does it serve the purpose of mobility and independence for the user, but also serves as a step forward for the whole community,” said Sayinle Zungu, operations manager of OJA.
The delivery of these wheelchairs brings the total number of donated manual wheelchairs by OJA to 16800 in KwaZulu-Natal.
In addition to the wheelchairs, the association also donated a generous amount of PPE to the centre.
This was made possible by the organisation’s generous partners.
Indlu Yokuphephela is situated in the rural South Coast and has more than 20 people with disabilities residing in the centre.
The safe haven was founded by Mrs LC Ndlovu who is committed to making a difference in the lives of the children in her area.
She understands that for many little children, a wheelchair is the first step towards independence and living a productive life.
Children might need wheelchairs for many different reasons.
Some have had injuries either to their legs or spine, which controls leg movement.
Others have disabilities due to muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy.
For children who depend on a wheelchair for the long term, life is different.
They have to learn how to use the wheelchair in lots of different situations.
As part of the process, OJA did a demonstration on how to use the wheelchairs and how to adjust each chair to suit the needs of the child.
Despite Covid-19, OJA continues to provide support for community organisations and vulnerable members of society.
For more information about the Operation Jumpstart Association, contact Sayinle Zungu at 031 201 3770/3976/3490 or email info@ojafund.co.za
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