Cerebral Palsy and Assistive Cardboard Equipment

Update on Alan's stool and party

2011-12-15T13:29:00.000-08:00

Good News!

Alan's stool arrived in Malawi and here is Anna helping a child to try it out

Having made the Christmas hats the Monday Men's group wore them

while painting the twisted paper stars.

All this activity to prepare for a party with Alan

Party time and Dick and Alan pull a home-made cracker

Alan's cracker gift is a photo' of the child on his stool

Friends together

Please note- this photo' was composed especially to show of the paper stars!

Paper Furniture Men's group

2011-08-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

The Men's group is concentrating on making step-up stools to send with the therapists who will be teaching on cerebral palsy in African countries.

These stools fit into the suitcase well and are very useful for demonstrations with children

Alan is part of the group. He has multiple sclerosis so it was hard and slow work for him - frustrating because he had been able to to woodwork professionally before becoming ill. Anyway he persisted and made a number of step-up stools.

Now this stool in the photo is in the post on its way to Malawi where Occupational Therapist Anna and Malawians are trying to make equipment to help the children in sitting.

We are sending Alan's stool - a sign of perseverance in difficulties

What better encouragement for children with disabilities?

Good news from Uganda

2011-07-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

January - C in the chair that was a model one for the APT course run for HoCePa in Uganda

Despite the temporary strap he was going to play and reached for the doll -

Reaching................................................Achieving!

This little boy came with his grandmother to the APT course. He has cerebral palsy with fluctuating tone and had difficulty sitting and standing. He also has two great assets; as you can see from the photographs, he is really interested in being busy playing and he has a grandmother who is active and creative in his development.

On the course he was a great model and full of life. Joy thinks of him fondly, " he was a scamp; he had a chair but really wanted to stand".

There was an APT standing board so Renate, a physiotherpist who was helping on the course,

let him try it to assess him. He had 'dancing feet' and struggled to keep them down, mainly due to the lack of support in the standing board (he needed a higher support, less width and a tray to bring his weight forward over his base).

His grandmother like the others was learning APT step-by-step and was making a chair for him.

On the last day they cut out the pieces for a standing frame for C. She took them home and make it there.

Grandmother and the standing frame pieces on the last day of the course

She manged to email some photos today

July - C at home playing and sitting in his chair made by his grandmother

C - Standing and playing!
The lovely big tray for the chair is being used to give a play area when standing.
Congratulations to a wonderful grandmother and grandson.

Premiere of Purple Fields Production film for CPA in Ghana

2011-02-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

On 4th February 2011 the film called 'The Time is Now' was launched at the British Council in Accra. This film was produced by Elspeth Waldie from the charity called Purple Fields Productions. It is about cerebral palsy and the importance of coming for physiotherapy and the possibilities of help including equipment. It is a wonderful film and copies were given to representatives of different organizations who will show it again, using it as a tool for awareness raising about cerebral palsy and what can be done to help.

While the seats at the British Council filled up there were slides of APT equipment being used and physiotherapy to help children with cerebral palsy.

There was around 90 people attending including some of the film stars

Osmond Annum chairing the questions, suggestions and discussions on what can be done to help children and their families in Ghana

God bless and speed the work being done in Ghana

CPA and Hocepa - Uganda Course

2011-02-05T10:33:00.000-08:00

A busy time on the APT section of the course

- lots of learning snd useful items made

A closer view of the chairs

There was a day for making toys - spot some in the photograph

Party and play time

Last day with certificates on show

A busy week

2011-01-29T14:36:00.000-08:00

This has been another busy week.

We visited Dr Badoe who is a paeditrician and very supportive of the training work of Cerebral Palsy Africa. He sees many children with different disabilities but says that the majority have cerebral palsy. One of the causes he notices is untreacted jaundice in newborn babies. He has been working for the last 2 years to start a child abuse centre. Finally all is ready to help children who are abused. Sadly this includes disabled children.

We have been working on items for the Hospitals

Jean started to make a ride on donkey requested for use at one of the hospitals

Anna painted the tro-tro walker

Richard varnished it (amongst lots of other work) and

we all delivered the tro-tro walker to the hospital

......

Then on the 28th January 2011 The Venash-N Enterprise

Appropriate Paper-based Technology (APT) workshop was opened

Veronica Hansen- Nortey and her husband

Visitors, including 2 reporters and someone from the Pink radio station crowded in after the prayers, singing and the ribbon was cut

The special cake

A friend made a special cake - there were ribbons everywhere - great celebration

Tools and patterns hanging ready for action. Thanks Jane for helping make the patterns - they are really appreciated.

Veronica with a chair she has made - see removable footrest

Anna in the 'porch' of the container with Veronica's son and family friend

Mandy (who helped start and inclusive school in Accra calledMulti Kids) talking with Veronica. She says she knows how hard it is to get a new project going in Ghana and thinks Veronica and family have done so well

One of the children who comes to Multi Kids is going to have a new chair support.

The footstool is just fine -

thanks to Alan Balcombe and Richard Simmonds from the UK Paper Furniture Social Enterprise - Monday group.

Monica, who works at the school, did the CPA Apt course in 2009 and she is going to make him a seat support - the one in the photo has an intergral foot rest and is too short but they want to keep it as a model.

Ghana is a great place for making furniture from Cardboard - loads of imports, cement comes in strong brown bags - great for final covering of tiems and newspapers are used - unlikely that people will all read online for some time considering the difficulties in staying online.

Follow-up training day

2011-01-23T14:39:00.000-08:00

The two Mums who are making APT chairs and standing frames for sale.

A follow-up training day for them.

It is important that work is documented. We went over record-keeping (they seemed a bit dubious about this) and then gave them their cameras from CPA to help (really pleased about this!)

Using the wooden giraffe that Richard is making to decide on how high from the floor we should have a ride-on horse. The reason J and Jean are paying no attention to the camera is because they're looking for a tape-measure

J's sister and Anna being artistic

The painted tro-tro

J able to sit alone with some help from Anna's first APT item

- the painted chair

It is too small for J who has long legs but it worked well on the chair jammed up to the table with his feet hanging

Training in Uganda - January 2011

2011-01-20T14:35:00.000-08:00

The first CPA training course is currently being run in Uganda. Hocepa (Hope for Cerebral Palsy in Uganda) is a parents organization and they requested and have arranged the training.

Renate has been running the first part of the course on the physiotherapy side and helping participants know how to handle and help the child at home.

The Ugandan participants
They are now doing APT training with Joy helping

They will make items for their children and help others with children needing chairs in their homes - a new group of APTers/ Paper Furniture Makers

Making boards

Joy demonstrating the strength of rolled pieces of paper especially when the grains are in the direction to hold up a book over a gap.

A few days away from Accra

2011-01-19T14:37:00.000-08:00

The beautiful cape Coast with the dreadful history - it was awful enough just to see the places where people were held before being shipped off to be slaves
Never again

Seeing the equipment made in 2009!

Richard helping hold the feet while Joana shows her skills - she leant a lot from a CPA course and wants to do her Masters on the topic.

The classroom for children with cerebral palsy, named in honour of Gloria Godfrey who worked towards this and worked hard to help Veronica, Dorinda and Eddie Doyle (VSO carpentry teacher) run a course on the Assistive Cardboard Equipment in Cape Coast. It was held in the School for the Deaf in the end of 2009 and resulted in all the chairs and standing frames being made.

More visits and more APT

2011-01-14T10:23:00.001-08:00

Making an insert for a wheel chair - also useful for use on an ordinary kitchen chair. A suggestion from Renate (physiotherapist) so Joy is taking one to Uganda for on Sunday 16th Jan and we thought it would be very useful here.

Every day we are making as well as visiting.

Richard making a ramp for tilting a chair - please not the use of tights kindly donated by Margaret and the WI!

People are very active in Accra

Real Tro-tros - always busy in Accra
Dorinda and Anna with tro-tro walker (wheels in the bag - still need adjustment)

At Korle Bu, the main teaching Hospital in Accra there is a new Paediatric Physiotherapy Unit - very smart and parents bring children every weekday. We spent a morning observing and playing with the children

One little boy had played a lot and fell asleep

There are lots of children needing chairs and standing frames. Sandra, the physiotherapist requested we help with a chair for this child. We are going work on making one with Dorinda
Please note the Paper Furniture box made by Libby- Sandra loves it and wants another!

Just in case anyone is wondering - it is not all work

Lots of wonderful fruit !

Back in Ghana

2011-01-11T13:34:00.000-08:00

After 2 years CPA equipment people are back in Ghana. The 3 of us went to Pigs Farm, bus/tro-tro place, and met up with Veronica, one of the participants on the Cerebral Palsy Africas's 2009 APT course. We went to her house and saw her daughter who has cerebral palsy.

Veronica and Jean walking along path into Veronica's back yard

Veronica showed us how well A is doing in the cardboard standing frame she has made

Richard(from Hampshire) and Anna(from Australia) with A - the house is very small and packed with items including Veronica's APT work

After a lot of chat about her work making chairs and standing frames for Annet and other children over the last 2 years, we went to see the new development that is to help with the space problem Walking from the house to the new container bought with the help of MOSS (Move On - Seed Support), a small Christian charity helping people who have a specific need where a small grant will make a difference to helping them move on in life and useful enterprise

Veronica's newly acquired workshop for helping children with disabilities in Accra, is being beautifully prepared for action. So much work has been done to get it ready. Concrete slabs, are on one side and the back for some extra work space and also on the front. Then she has caged in the front so it all locks safely. Inside the container is lined with cardboard sheets on walls and ceiling. The cardboard lined walls and ceiling lightening the inside of the container

Well what else could a true enthusiast use?!

Veronica, delighted to have a space to increase the good work!

More on Burkina Faso APT training

2011-01-01T02:46:00.001-08:00

CONGRATULATIONS to all the new APT people in Burkina Faso

Back row from right to left: Paul, assistant administrative, Souleymane, orthopedic technician, Prosperer: Animator Radio president du Cassed, org. for street children and orphans, Aïcha, Policice activity assistant in the prison of 39 women deliquents, Bakari, Psychologist, Aurore French volunteer speechtherapist and psychomotrienne, Mothers of children of Fitima, Cécile French volunteer, OT. mother

Second row on Marain's right hand is: Jean Louis, PT assistant, and on her left hand and further are all mothers. In the front is Arcen Patient of Fitima, decorator.

Making a cardboard insert including foot support

This is useful for a kitchen chair and a wheelchair too

Strengthening the insert

A different insert for giving pelvic, back and foot support using an available chair

Making a bench

A child-friendly chair

Decorating the ramp

Busy painting

The useful and colourful results!

Making APT benches in Burkina Faso

2010-12-03T11:03:00.000-08:00

APT training with Fitima

Marian teaching - she came to Mtwapa in Kenya in 2009

Now she has translated loads of handouts into French with the help of Danielle Robertson

The Foundation FITIMA fight for a better quality of life for handicapped children in Burkina Faso:

Interview with its founder, Hawa Drame see website www.fitima.org

Hawa Drame is the mother of two children suffering from muscular dystrophy. Biochemist by training, she worked for several years in associations of patients with rare diseases, including the AFM (French Association against Myopathies) and EURORDIS (European Organization for Rare Diseases). Arrival in Burkina Faso in 2002, she quickly informed about the conditions of care for disabled drivers, and discussed the situation with leaders of organizations of disabled people. The finding was immediate: in Burkina Faso (as in most countries of the sub-region), there are facilities for disabled adults, but the care of handicapped children is not very developed. With its experience in the field of genetic diseases in general and neuromuscular diseases in particular, it established in August 2003, the Foundation FITIMA (International Foundation Tierno and Mariam), devoted to children suffering from neuromuscular diseases in particular and disability engine in general.

Now about Fitima in French

Hawa Dramé est la mère de deux enfants atteints de myopathies. Hawa Drame is the mother of two children suffering from muscular dystrophy. Biochimiste de formation, elle a travaillé pendant plusieurs années au sein d’associations de patients atteints de maladies rares, dont l’AFM (Association Française contre les Myopathies) et EURORDIS (European Organisation for Rare Diseases). Arrivée au Burkina Faso en 2002, elle s’est rapidement informée sur les conditions de prise en charge des personnes handicapées moteurs, et a examiné la situation avec des responsables d’associations de handicapés. Le constat fut immédiat : au Burkina (comme dans la plupart des pays de la sous-région), il existe des structures pour les adultes handicapés, mais la prise en charge des enfants handicapés moteurs n’est que très peu développée. Forte de son expérience dans le domaine des maladies génétiques en général et des maladies neuromusculaires en particulier, elle a créé, en août 2003, la Fondation FITIMA (Fondation Internationale Tierno et Mariam), consacrée aux enfants souffrant de maladies neuromusculaires en particulier et de handicap moteur en général.

Preparing for Christmas with goods for sale and for trips next year

2010-11-29T15:37:00.000-08:00

Paper Furniture Social Enterprise WORKSHOP is open for visitors

Unit 4, MacNeills, Redhill Farm, Medstead, Alton Hampshire GU34 5EE. UK

David testing a paper stool- yes he does have his weight on the stool!

Real waste paper wastepaper bins!

Anna looking at doll called 'Gifty' in chair she painted. This is going to Uganda with physiotherapists Renate and Liz

Food Festival Mombasa

2010-10-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

Remember that In-house APT training was being run in Mombasa earlier this year?

Some of the products made

Displaying the goods made at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation Centre

Mr Alfred Ojwang, teacher of the course, showing the products made from cardboard and paper. He says, "many were interested and requested to visit centre and see the real techniques behind all these."

Finished products - Malawi Teachers Southern Region

2010-10-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

Finished chairs with removable headrests

Standing frames on display

All the small benches on their sides to show off the decorated tops

Training Workshop in Malawi

2010-08-26T10:39:00.001-07:00

The workshop has been progressing with the ambition of everyone being able to learn the techniques and also to have some examples made to take back to their own Resource Centre

We kept on having to stop and make paste until

this group got up early and made a decent quantity!!

Children visited so everyone see the equipment in action and also learn more about measuring the children for chairs, booster seats and standing frames

Don excited with being able to use the APT easel

Don trying out the small stander with an extended piece of board and

then demonstrating the bicycle inner-tube hand grip to hold a spoon steady

Loveness practising using a standing frame and clapping standing up!

Loveness working on a puzzle while supported in the Paper Furniture Social Enterprise chair that was made for a teaching model

Loveness has done the puzzle!

Hannah (physiotherapist) with McHollen trying out one of the new chairs

Starting work on standing frames for children with cerebral palsy to use in class

Action with a new standing frame emerging

Note the useful tools - a gift from Farnborough Rotary Club

Jane demonstrating and talking about how to cover the bench with

the final layer of paper for a smooth finish

Assistive Cardboard Equipment for Schools

2010-08-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

A bench on the way - 13 made now and 5 chairs are on the way

The alphabet chart with printed pictures (under the letters) made and sent as a gift from You2Toys group

Easel testing

Group photo with Sinead before she left

Montford College of Special Needs Education Teacher Training

2010-08-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

Sinead and Pete have been teaching Special Needs Teachers,
the basics about helping children with cerebral palsy in the classroom

Trying a chair even though it is too small!

The stool Margaret decorated in use already

The participants have been meeting and working with children with cerebral palsy from

the Resource Units they represent.

The walk to work!

Collecting cardbaord from supermarkets in Blantyre

In-house course- Mombasa

2010-08-05T02:04:00.000-07:00

Cardboard waiting for creative people

An In-house course is being run at Cerebral Palsy Foundation Centre, arranged by the Head Teacher, Mrs Shamsa Abdulrehaman. Mr Alfred Ojwang who did the CPA Assistive cardboard Equipment course in Mtwapa last year, works at the Centre and is teaching there.

The other teachers and staff will be able to help the pupils learn new skills and have fun making bowls and other craft items for sale

2010-08-05T01:57:00.000-07:00

Marianne West (on the left) visiting the UK workshop and talking about her experiences of living with cerebral palsy. She talked about how important good supportive equipment is at the right time as well as how parents should let children learn and experience life i.e not be over-protective!

Opening of UK Workshop

2010-08-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

The Grand Opening was great fun with lots of visitors - over 70 but we lost countSue introducing Archie Hinchcliffe from Cerebral Palsy Africa who had come as guest of honour

to cut the paper bunting 'ribbon'. In her speech she explained that the Paper Furniture is a vital part of Cerebral Palsy Africa's work.

"I want to make it clear that I believe making equipment out of waste paper and cardboard is a pillar of CPA.

Without the opportunity to practise sitting and standing and being supported in good positions so as to be able to learn to use their hands many children with cerebral palsy cannot progress. They can have the best therapy anyone in the world has to offer but without these pieces of equipment they will not learn to put the benefits of the therapy into use to function better. That is why the work of PFSE is fundamental to what we in Cerebral Palsy Africa hope to achieve."

Tiwi results

2010-07-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

Made-to-size chairs for the children with other Tiwi products

The happy team members

Area Chairman and Tiwi Group members giving gifts

Chairs

2010-07-17T05:21:00.001-07:00

So many children with cerebral palsy spend large amounts of the day on their backs

- a chair for sitting gives the opportunity to see around

Finding good positions for eating can be difficult, particularly for the older children

Everyone is happy to see Mbaraka being able to eat more easily - thanks to the new chair

Mbaraka' finished elephant chair

Pili happy - sipping water from a spoon

Pili trying out her chair

All busy despite babies on back and needing to work from a hand-propelled tricycle.

The tray is being made for Pili - final covering of brown paper starting

Tiwi times

2010-07-02T07:31:00.001-07:00

Everyone clapping Alan, Margaret's husband

Margaret told everyone that Alan had been tearing the tough brown paper to speed us all up in the work - despite the fact that he has Multiple Sclerosis and has lost the proper use of one hand

Margaret showing how to use brown paper for a smooth strong finish

Everyone getting busy with putting on the final layers

Some of the Tiwi Disabled People's Group cooked - the photo shows mandazi being prepared delicious when fried

Some parts of the road were very bumpy - Libby was splattered with paste one day

- hence the apron

The beautiful greenery

2010-06-23T10:18:00.000-07:00

Kennett talking about the uk workshop and the way it supports the team in Tiwi.

2010-06-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

Second week in Tiwi

2010-06-23T08:16:00.000-07:00

Busy making APT chairs

Washing the plates at the door of the market - the venue for the workshop

Too many things to do and not enough time - trying to make a board with a foot plate for

Mwanahamisi, the Chairman of the Tiwi Handicapped Group with the old Tiwi road

Libby showing a Tiwi needle/hook made from a palm leaf! Working on the chair for the

Some participants have two disabled children. This lad has an older disabled brother.

His Mum is working hard making him a chair

Over the weekend we went to the homes of two of the participants from the course.

Both have girls, with cerebral palsy.

Raziki on Mum's lap, bottom shuffles around the workshop floor

and is carried to the workshop on her Mum's back.

Mwanasha was not feeling well but has recovered and a chair with a high tray

has been designed for her as she oftens flops forward when sitting

Margaret on the way to Ukunda on the matatu - local bus complete wiht first aid kit

Tiwi Disabled Support Group

2010-06-19T03:30:00.000-07:00

A warm welcome from Twiga Lodge at Tiwi beach

Making boards in Tiwi Market Hall

'B' in smaple chair made in UK by Paper Furniture Social Enterprise

Trying out chairs in the workshop

In Kenya June 2010

2010-06-15T04:07:00.000-07:00

Mombasa is very hot (of course this is a pesonal opinion - it is the cold season here). Having spent ages preparing it is wonderful to be back at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation Centre. Great changes are in progress with new classes including growing plants and cooking being introduced. Elizabeth and the new Occupational Therapist are kept busy with children coming in for therapy.

The reclining chair made by Libby and decorated by Denise (from Paper Furniture Enterprise) has be designated to one child already. First we will use it as a teaching aid. It is quite tricky to help seat children who are very tight with spasticity. This child is one of them but Libby's eclining chair will help a lot. We will add a curved back and a lapstrap and give it to them after

Preparing to go to Kenya

2010-06-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

There is to be a workshop on Appropriate paper-based technology in Mombasa June 2010.

It will be run in the Swahili Cultural Centre and Libby, Jean and Margaret are preparing by making some examples.

Libby constructed a reclining chair

Beanie helped with the final covering in brown flour-sack paper

Denise collaged and painted to make it look fantastic

We love the results including the funky chicken/bittern/??

Kennett has made a box to keep the chair safe on it's journey

It is wonderful to have lots of people using their talents!

Trugs getting ready for sale

2010-06-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

First lots of papering

Then painting

NEWS!

2010-05-15T04:12:00.000-07:00

1. PFSE will have a stand at local fetes - busy preparing and hoping to find more Volunteers.

We have been having trug-making days

Getting started (Jean chatting with Margaret Stratton who is going to Kalene, Zambia)

The trugs taking shape

2. The first Trip with Paper Furniture Social Enterprise Volunteers is being planned.

The Tiwi Group of people with Disabilities in Kenya are helping children with disabilities! They organise meetings and an Occupational Therapist travels to help the children. Now the Tiwi group will learn to make equipment so that the children can have good support sitting and doing everyday tasks at home. Jean, Libby and Margaret are preparing to run a course in making APT chairs and other useful items with the group

Tiwi group leaders and community leader representative at meeting to discuss this last year

3. Paper Furniture Social Enterprise is going to rent a workshop space from Ian McNeill Horse Supplies in Medstead

Work has started to clean and paint the workshop!

Kennett and Libby in full swing. Lots of cleaning done by Jane, Sue and Margaret

First order for Paper Furniture Social Enterprise

2010-05-08T02:53:00.000-07:00

The work of Charity Treasurers can be wide and varied. Beatrice, the Treasurer for Cerebral Palsy Africa, set our new Paper Furniture Social Enterprise (PFSE) group into action.

She gave us our first order - steps to help her reach the high shelves.

The steps made with stripes being organised.

Margaret was visiting from Uganda and liked the Paper Furniture items very much.

She is field-testing the steps.

From Beatrice:

Just to report that the steps arrived this morning and the green stripes look fine. It fits exactly where I wanted it.

Just to add to the description of the steps. The design is really thought through. I have used the steps today several times and I like that it has this "grip" under the top step, so it is easy to grab and shift around.

Paper Furniture Social Enterprise starting production

2010-02-25T14:33:00.000-08:00

The first course!

Sue and Libby setting up the pieces of the chairs they have designed

Sue's throne chair being modelled - the measurements were good!

We had two Taster sessions and more volunteers visited

Many thanks to Jardinique in Beech who donated the use of a room

in their beautiful Hampshire barn

Paper Furniture courses starting in Hampshire UK

2010-02-01T04:24:00.000-08:00

Paper Furniture Social Enterprise

The first small training course for Volunteers is from 23-25th February.

The Diocese of Ndola CBR Staff 2009 showing the different chairs they have learnt to make

Visitors Welcome
Drop in and see/experience the work in action!

There will be 2 Taster sessions.
Come any time between 2-5pm or 7.30 - 9.30 pm on Wednesday 24th Feb 2010.

Please send a message for directions

Wukwahi wa Nzambi making chairs - ZAMBIA

2010-01-25T14:05:00.000-08:00

See the cute chairs made by the Wukwashi Volunteers for children with disabilities.

An order through Naomie Silavwe, the physiotherapist at the Company Clinic in Kitwe.

Emmanuel and Patrick overseeing safe delivery

A New Green Social Enterprise - calling all interested parties!

2010-01-06T12:30:00.000-08:00

How about a new volunteer challenge for the New Year?

Want to be in at the start of a really new and different project?

Would you like to meet creative and enterprising new people locally?

Have you got skills and a little spare time to share?

Want some fun doing something practical, exciting and very GREEN?

And all of this in a really great cause too!.....

Join Paper Furniture Enterprises - A not-for-profit social enterprise!

Our aim is to set up a new social enterprise making furniture from recycled paper and card developing the work of Jean and Kennett Westmacott. They have been using paper furniture techniques, developed in Zimbabwe, by Bevill Packer and Timothy Gono to make specially adapted chairs, standing frames, ride-on animals and wheel chair inserts for severely disabled children in various parts of Africa - see http://www.peoplepotential.org.uk/ and http://www.cerebralpalsyafrica.org/

We want to see if we can learn the lessons of running a small social business first hand to help fund more workshops in Africa and India as well as the production of instruction manuals. We will do this by setting up Paper Furniture Enterprises (PFE) – a mini 'factory' to pilot larger scale production of customized paper furniture. We aim to record the pilot process as we go, learning by doing, so we can pass on our expertise and create a model for sustainable income generation for disability projects across the developing world.

Open Day - Monday 18th January

Plum Cottage, Hattingley Rd, Medstead, GU34 5NQ

Drop in anytime from 10am to 5pm - refreshments will be provided.

You are warmly invited to come and see photographs of Jean and Kennett's work in Africa, to have a chat about getting involved in this new social enterprise and to wish Happy 20th Birthday to the paper furniture sofa!

You can try it out too!

PFE want to build on Jean and Kennett's work to help the projects they have been working with become more self sufficient in their funding so that they can continue to provide the support and equipment these children so desperately need - see www.cerebralpalsyafrica.org. Jean is creating a manual of the construction techniques and we would like to add a 'how to' guide to income generation and running a small business from our experiences at the Medstead 'factory'. We want to involve as many local people and partners as we can. We are especially keen to work with young people in the village and local community. So please spread the word, pass on contacts of anyone who might be interested and get involved yourself!

Call Libby Brayshaw on 01420 562227 to register your interest and to ask any questions.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Award for Archie Hinchcliffe

2009-12-04T02:26:00.000-08:00

Mrs Archie Hinchcliffe, has been awarded a Fellowship by the
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, UK.

Congratulations!!

Archie started the work of training ages ago and with Allan Burns and others established the Cerebral Palsy Africa Charity (Scottish Charity SC036501). She works tirelessly and really deserves the award. Lots of reflected glory to Peter Hinchcliffe, her supportive husband.

Blantyre Training for Trainers(TfT) course

2009-12-04T02:01:00.001-08:00

The TfT course involved talks on training methods and lots of practical work such as doing a microteach on a useful subject to help others and thinking through difficult topics and then doing a presentation for example, introducing an idea to a manager.

McDonald Wayekha, a Rehahabilitation Technician who works in outreach from Blantyre. He is doing a 'Microteach' on training and helping parents feed a child with cerebral palsy - all part of Training the Trainers. A very necessary thing too as feeding can be quite a challenge.

Participants and teachers (MAP teachers Mr Caedric pahuwa and mr Robert Mzota also taught).

Lilongwe and weekend at Kwathu Family resort

2009-11-02T11:35:00.000-08:00

Loads of good work is done at Zomba Prison MAP Workshop

- see all the walkers for children with disabilities

Gloria and Headmaster discussing school pupils 'self-catering' and how to help

- all in the hot midday sun

Lesley on arrival at Sani Trading Centre while we contacted Gloria to say we had arrived

Beautiful Lake Malawi, slightly choppy compared to normal but great fun for swimming!

Taken at Kwathu Family resort, near Nkhotakota.

From Lilongwe to Blantyre

2009-10-28T02:45:00.000-07:00

The recession is making an impact on organizations like Malawi Against Physical Disabilities (MAP) Full orders but no materials to make the equipment

We stayed at the SOS children's village in Lilongwe. They do an amazing work. The Malawi Social services alert them to children that have been orphaned. Their Social Affairs Officer visits the children (anywhere in the country), meets any family members and spends a lot of time getting to know the background as well as the children. Then the child/children will be placed in a house of about 10 children with their new mother. Lots of support is given and the children always keep links with their homes. So they live in a new family, have a chance of education even to u niversity for those who are capable. Some of the children have now left the SOS village and married looking after their own families

Benjamin, son of Lamack who works at SOS. He attends the SOS School

Moving on towards Blantyre.

We went to Nkotakots first and landed up going by minibus loaded to the gunnels and then 2 huge matresses were tied on the outside over the back windscreen!

Photo of fast food available - chips take-away through the window of the bus

After a long minibus trip from Nkotakota we arrived in Blantyre in the dark. Lesley fell off a step and fractured her wrist. So we have got to know the inside of Hospitals going for X-ray and ECG and finally today she was in the wonderful Cure Hospital, having the fracture manipulated under anisthetic. Wonderful care - all is well.

Lyn helping Lesley tend to the broken arm

In Malawi!

2009-10-23T03:37:00.001-07:00

Our first day in Malawi consisted of meetings, meetings and more meetings. These were really interesting as they were with people from Malawi Government Ministries interested in the training on cerebral palsy - hopefully CPA can contribute in helping children through the training given to Malawian therapists technicians and other means. We also visited Malawi Council for the Handicapped (above)

Lameck Saka showing Lesley the gaiters and arm wraps that are made at the SOS Children's village in Lilongwe.

SOS kindly allowed us to use a room at their school for the training.

Training for Trainers Workshop Participants

The Lilongwe group, comprising of therapists, Rehabilitation workers and equipment makers. All had done a CPA course before and have had the two day training in order to pass on their skills more effectively. They all taught on a subject of their choice for 5 minutes each. By the huge varitey of topics and intersting presentations they will certainly be training others well.

Over the last week Lesley (Education speicalistMalawi

Second week of the APT training in Mtwapa

2009-08-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

The chairs were put out to dry in the shade of the verandah

The new task for the second week was to measure a child and make something according to the child's measurements. This also involved taking into account where it was going to be used and measuring the chair or table where a standing board would be used.

Using a standing frame made in the first week to help measure the child
Then lots of calculations

Making a standing board also means that a band must be sewn

This lad was very happy to see be measured for a supportive seat plus footrest and tray.

He will use these in class Demonstrating the different bits to give K a secure seating position and good writing platform

Alfred and Baya checking the upright standing Frame they made for P. It has 3 pieces with two wooden A-frame supports so she can to use it outside. The wooden frames can sit in holes in the ground. It could also be used inside.

The supports were painted before going home

Happily the chairs were dry enough for painting - the standing frmes had to wait a week or more

Irene showed that beautiful, child-friendly mosaic designs can be made using little scraps of paper

On the last day we had an Exhibition

A small organizing committee was run by the School Chairman, Mr Mbwana Khamisi. Mr Muzungu the Head Teacher of the Special Unit at Mtwapa Sahajanand School had told all the parents of the schoolchildren, as had the participants. We had the APT items in the large classroom with people from each group ready to explain.

Musa explaing that he pmad sockets for a piece of hosepipe to have toys tied to it of for APT rods for reaching games for the child to be active and have fun while standing.

There were more items outside and different participants had book each which they showed and used for explanations for the visitors. Marian set up another classroom with items demonstrating practical and easy-to-accomplish ideas for helping a child with disabilities. There was soon a large gathering of parents and children listening and watching demonstrations such as positioning and feeding a young child with cerebral palsy.

One of the children demonstrating Standing Tall using his new standing frame!

The APT items, books and demonstrations were so popular that we almost ran out of time for an acrobatic display. The Angels Acrobats with Morris (one of the participants) put on an acrobatic show including some of the children in limbo dancing and then astounding and entertaining everybody with their agility.

The afternoon ended with a closing ceremony. Marion and I were made into Swahili ladies and given kangas and new names administered by the head teacher, Mrs Tabitha Runya. With Batul and Mr Khamisi we planted 4 trees in the courtyard of the school - the perfect end for a week of recycling paper that had orginally come from a tree!
Mr Soud Babo from the Early Assessment and Resource Centre (EARC) represented the District Education Officer, Kalifi, and closed the ceremony.

The Group photograph

The First Week of the APT Training Course

2009-08-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

There were 17 participants from different organizations.

The first week concentrated on learning techniques using templates. Every group started with a chair. This was 'jumping in fast' but helped to make sure there was one piece of equipment that could be taken back to each organization that had sent a participant.

Musa, Baya and Alfred (just visible over Baya's shoulder) getting started

Irene , Phyllis and Tsuma getting started with working out a 'cutting list'

for the pieces of the chair

Baya, Timothy, Bernard and Willie checking

Ngedwe Catherine, Morris and Boniface starting to cut

and a few days later putting a final layer of cement bag paper on their chair

Dorothy and Amina working on their chair

Marian covering a physiotherpay bench and Baya covering his group's chair

Then...later on in the week

making chairs was followed by making standing frames

Bernard Ruwa and Larry tying their standing board pieces together

Phyllis and Irene making sure the knobs for their standing board are firmly secured

Timothy, Willie and Bernard busy with a small standing board

There were children around who had not gone home for the short holidays due to distance.

This group was making a happy dancing beat with the help of the watering can drum!

APT training starting in Mtwapa, near Mombasa

2009-08-11T11:01:00.001-07:00

New course started Monday 3rd August
at Sahajanand School, Special Unit

17 participants

Now what?

A chair emerges!
(Victor, Bernard Mwanuya, Willie Chimwen, Timothy)

Measuring

The break-time band - the watering-can drumming was great, so was the dancing

More with Less - Marian Velthuijs

2009-07-31T05:21:00.000-07:00

Marian has funded herself to come to help on the APT course. She was one of the authors of the very useful book called 'More with Less' that is also translated into Spanish and French.

Here she is demonstraing a simply made, but very effective splint for the children whose hands get so tight and clenched due to the effects of cerebral palsy.

A happy recipient

(it must be explained that Marian is singing to help the child relax)

Mtwapa - Community Initiatives

2009-07-31T04:30:00.000-07:00

The Coastal Community Development Initiative for People with Special Needs

This organization was started after discovering that there are many children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities in the Twapa community (12 villages). There are 8 active members including 2 therapists and 2 teachers who do field work. They go to the houses where the Community Workers have identified children with disabilities. Some of the children are referred on to the Hospital (with a letter of referral). They are followed up after surgery. A Home programme is designed with the parents for those who do not need surgery.

Now all this work is done on a voluntary basis, in fact the active members contribute 200 shillings a month towards transport and other costs.

Elizabeth Okella outside the building they use. She coordinates the filedwork team.

They all do other work to keep going. Elizabeth works part time at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. an has masterminded the preparations and organization of the Conference and the 2 courses being run with CPA trainers.

CONGRATULATONS to the Volunteers making a difference in Kenya.

Marian and Jean went with Mr Muzungu to visit one of the mothers who had been identified by the Community Workers. She has 6 children - the last 2 have cerebral palsy. When Elizabeth and team were visiting a lot of families with the Community workers they missed here house and she rang them saying she was the only one who was missed. So now she was the only one who was visited by the Muzungus

Marian showing the family photos of APT equipment.

We were choosing children with a need for a simple standing frame or chair as examples for teh students coming on the APT course. They will start with learning the techniques and in the 2nd week will make a special chair or standing frame according to the measurements they take from a child. We heard that P was not attending school due to distance and the fact that the local school that does have children with special needs only has boarding facilities for boys. It sounded as if she needed some equipment so her brother will come and help make a standing frame for her (she is in the green dress)

P and her mother

Mum and her baby who also has cerebral palsy

We were given a wonderful treat by P's father and family - coconut milk cut freshly and straight from the nut!

Coconut cheers! Mr Muzungu and Marian

MWTAPE SAHAJANAND SCHOOL

This school was built by a private benefactor and given to the government. It has wonderful classrooms and a dormitory for the children with disabilities and other children who cannot get home easily during the week. There are also some street children - now ex-street children receiving an education. They have a section for special need children. The APT course will be held in one of their classrooms.

Mr Muzungu is the Head of the Special Unit - he is with one of the children who will have something made for him during the APT training.

Conference at Cerebral Palsy Foundation

2009-07-31T03:51:00.000-07:00

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation in Mombasa has been helping children with schooling since 1995. They have 33 children and 5 teachers, 3 therapists, care-givers and other staff. They are making a huge difference to the young people and children who attend. Many people are involved in fundraising to make the continuation of this facility possible.

A 2-day Conference is being held at The Cerebral Palsy Foundation Centre on 30th and 31st July 2009. Belinda, a Physiotherapist could only come later and arrived straight from the Airport yesterday. The sessions have included; What is cerebral palsy, the causes, what cerebral palsy looks like (signs) and different types, tips for helping the child uses the hands, stretches and handling, Positioning and using equipment (showing the APT items) and more, with lots of questions and contributions from the participants.

Belinda and Suzy demonstrating good sleeping positions for a child with cerebral palsy

Some participants were very interested in learning more about autism, so here they are with Suzy, who works in a school for children on the autistic spectrum.

Getting started in Kenya

2009-07-29T06:13:00.000-07:00

Suzy Occupational Therapist looking forward to getting to Mombasa to start the training.

Jean barely makes the additional baggage allowance!!

Elizabeth Okella, Occupational Therapist has been masterminding the organization of both courses

CPA training in Kenya

2009-07-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

After much preparation in UK and Kenya the training courses for therapists and people wanting to learn to make APT equipment for children is to start next week.

Friends helping to cover a standing frame and chair for teaching examples.

Suzy Laird and Belinda Kotzee will run the Elementary training for therapists.

Marian Velthuijs arrived last night from the Netherlands to help Jean run the Appropriate Paper-based technology course.

Kennett Launch of MYCEPA, Zambia

2009-07-27T08:05:00.001-07:00

Kennett has moved from Ben Doree now but no photos are available until he gets back to a computer. On Saturday 25th July he got up at 0330 hours to get a taxi to Kitwe. There he joined the group going to the Launch of Mycepa. It is an organization set up with the long term aim of building an assessment and treatment centre for children with cerebral palsy in Zambia - a place for CP TRAIL BLAZERS! They now have the land fenced off and a container on the land. So many people came - more news will come from Ken and Esther Mundia in due course.

Next step Batch Production

2009-07-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Kennett is now in Zambia. He travelled from Lusaka to Kitwe by bus yesterday so he could take the new chair template/patterns and other necessary bits and pieces. The plan is to help the workshops get set up with shelves of piece parts e.g. sides, backs, seats and supports for a range of chair sizes. This will be ready and dry to help the Volunteers and CBR workers to make a chair to size far more quickly.

So today he started with the Volunteers from Wukwashi wa Nzambi and Ben Doree workshop.

Good news!

5 more standing frames have been made

and the APT bookcase that they started for the small office storeroom

is now finished.

Basic construction

Chrispine, Thompson and Patrick

carrying it to under the trees to dry out of the full sun

Next step- Chrispine fixing strengthening rods

(the bookcase is upsidedown)

PS. Not sure when Kennett will be able to get on line (it is quite a mission to get to the nearest town and find an internet shop) but hopefully a photo of the bookcase in situ and more news will be sent before too long!

The children being measured and testing equipment

2009-07-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

Shadrick and his Mum
Shadrick trying out his standing frame and while the band is being checked

Measuring Hildah

Hildah concentrating on toy while in a spare chair

Now the for the big moment -

Hildah being prepared by physiotherapist Harrison to help her stand

Hurrah- she is standing in her Star Stander!

Hidah practising taking weight through her legs while the physiotherapist adjusts her feet

Joseph and Mum

Joseph in his chair looking at a toy horse

Measuring Raphael

Checking Raphael and his chair

and making adjustments to his chair

Bending the side flaps back

and designing a removable base to make the whole chair higher

with the advantage of more stability

Once the testing had been done it was time for adjustments to all equipment

- the great advantage of using cardboard is that adjustments can be made very easily if needed to change the position of the child using the equipment

and as the child grows

Zambia - Ndola Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR)

2009-06-26T06:22:00.000-07:00

Ndola CBR Programme has Centres for people with disabilities in and around Ndola. The CBR workers do therapy activities for children and also oversee and encourage adults with intellectual disabilities in vocational work. Some of the Volunteers joined with the Wukwashi wa Nzambi volunteers for 2 days at Ben Doree.

No ladder - no worries!

This week Joy, Peter and Jean have been in Ndola in the De Jong Building in the Centre of the town. Andrew had been busy with John and Richard preparing the workshop space. This involved building another large work table and putting up shelving. Andrew left some of the tools which have been logged and handed over for the maintenance work.

The aim was to help set up the workshop. This involved the physical aspects and importantly practice with real children. 4 were chosen and came to be measured for a piece of equipment. There are different types of cerebral palsy and they were well chosen to help everyone make different variations of equipment according to the needs and sizes of the children.

Photos of WORK ..doing it and watching others

2009-06-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

A happy Kondwani is his standing frame. Lots of approval from Naomie, the physiotherapist.

Angela trying out her seat and footstool. She will use this to join the family at the diningroom table. We are hoping/expecting that thsi will help her strengthen her neck muscles too.

It makes a big difference for Community rehabilitation workers to have input from physiotherapists. Thanks to the charity work done by the Company Clinic in Kitwe, Naomie, their physiotherapist came to Ben Doree and gave a talk on cerebral palsy. She also saw 2 of the children she knows well from the Mother's group in Kitwe, in their new pieces of equipment.

After checking the equipment with the child and physiotherapist, it is time to paint!

Mildred is in the background painting a stool with Joy painting the butterfly chair

The painted standing frame

The weekend gave an opportunity to see the work done on the new Medical clinic for Misaka

Peter tried making one of the bricks!

The new seals are working!

Manfred working the foot-pump

Ben Doree Workshop and more

2009-06-20T00:16:00.000-07:00

Diz by the container in the photo, received wonderful gifts of clothes and much more from people in the UK and Australia. The container is slowly emptying. People come to buy the clothes and then have a little business selling them on - a much needed means of earning some cash in a country where unemployment is over 8O% in areas.

Diz and Andrew having a chat

Ben Doree Farm belongs to Diz Bostock. She really felt led to buy it and has been helping children who are HIV or have lost their parents to the disease and many others arrive for help - ususally in desparate straights. She met up with John and Becky who were working with Wukwashi wa Nzambi and Joyce and Henry went to live in a small house on the farm. Now the link with disabled children and families is growing. The workshop is built and Diz has been helping all of us allowing us to sleep in her house finding things for us and letting us use one of hte sewing machines she was given.

The first week in BenDoree consisted of tidying and making workstations - mainly Andrew with Jean painting and Peter was busy with the 'Go for' trips to town, the clinic (Joyce and Henry's baby Nancy had an ear infection but she is fine now). The matresses for the Volunteers

We were joined on Thursday by a number of the Wukwashi volunteers and started to make boards

Meet Emmanuel, Ellison, Jean, Patrick and Henry (Wukwashi wa Nzambi leader with Joyce)

We are pasting boards using the cardboard that we had opened up and organised into layers.

------------------------

Over the weekend we went to visit two of the Wukwashi Volunteers who are helping with the Chingola groups of children with disabilities. Marina is one of the first volunteers to find children with disabilities needing help.

Jean Chrispiene Andrew and Marina in the office at Chrispien's house.

Chrispiene is another social entreprise person. He started teaching his own children after school and was soon joined by 30 curious children. He has built classrooms on his house and has now found some teachers and runs a pre-school as well as working.

The reality of life for many people - no running water.
We went home with Marina and saw where she lives.

Marina showing how she has to collect water from a hole dug beside the stream - this helps a bit with some filtering.

This is Marina's first job of the day every morning.

Despite living with lots of difficulties (no electricity, tiny house with no security of tenure, caring for her sister's daughter and her daughter as well as a nephew), Marina works in a school (an hour's walk away) and still manages to help with the weekly sessions for the children with disabilities and their families. God bless Marina.

Another UK Volunteer comes to help!

Joy arrived last Sunday complete with box that customs had opened - then decided that they liked her bird chair!

Kondwani

Kondwani liked it too! He is 4 and has cerebral palsy.

It was Kondwani's and Peter's birthdays on the 16th - Kondwani received a present of a soft toy that Andrew's children had sent. Unwrapping going on in photo!
The lunchtime birthday celebration and cake!

Esther, Kondwani's Mum is one of the active Wukwashi Volunteers. She is a primary school teacher and has been helping run sessions with the children with disabilities

------------------------

We have returned to Ndola after a great 2 weeks out near Garneton, Kitwe on Ben Doree Farm

THERE ARE MORE PHOTOS COMING

run out of time now - hopefully more next week

Ben Doree preparation and workshop beginnnings

2009-06-13T09:08:00.000-07:00

Cardboard galore! Geoff and team collected enough for the 3-ton truck. Geoff, Richard (from Geoff's firm - he loaded and covered the truck) and Andrew are in the photo.

We discovered that half the workshop space was full of STUFF with another workshop space full of items equipment that has been donated. We worked hard on tidying both places in order to have one clear workshop. It was really worth the work. A wonderfully clear room emerged and Peter went off in the vehicle with some donations of adult chairs to Kitwe Hospital. Sadly the nurses, physiotherapists and lots of other staff (even docotrs) are on strike all over the country. However he was received by a physio' who was delighted with the chairs and the crutches and took him to the appropriate person in charge to officiate

On Tuesday Peter and Jean went to Kitwe to visit Naomie, the physiotherapist who has been very active in a mother's group with many children with cerebral palsy.

We saw Agnes and her mother who were on the camp. We heard how everyone had loved the camp. Two of the children and their mothers will come for measuring on Monday for the first made-tomeasure items for in Ben Doree.

As soon as there was space Andrew got to work concocting workbenches from a wooden bunkbed with the happy bonus of using some of the stuff that had not found a home. Henry is in the background removing Ken's rope to use to fetch the press.

Eddie, who lives with Diz, his 'Grannie', and Patrick (Joyce and Henry's nephew who also lives on Ben Dore farm) visiting to inspect the workshop. Eddie loves his PETS hand-propelled machine and uses it to get to school every day. Diz says he is top of the class.

Thursday and some of the Wukwashi Volunteers arrived to learn APT and help set up the workshop. Here Patrick(a new Volunteer) Thompson(also new), Esther who has made items before are opening up boxes with Andrew. Peter is out fetching the press made by a local carpenter. Please not the start of batons on the wall for shelves!

The New Press is made in Ndola

2009-06-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Martin Mwansa and other CBR workers from Ndola got together and made boards for the new frame/press made by the carpenters.

The boards are getting hard and will be made into chairs and standing frames in a couple of weeks.

Tomorrow we start at Kitwe with Wukwashi wa Nzambi

Then a workshop with both groups at the end of next week.

Fist day - Ndola

2009-06-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

Today we split up. Peter to Geoff to get the vehicle we are borrowing sorted. Geoff and Nell had found an amazing amount of cardboard - it filled the back of a 3 ton truck!

Margaret from Ndola Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) came to the Guest House and took Andrew and I to see their office, meet people and also visit the new workshop place and then two CBR programmes.

A 5-year old girl with cerebral palsy at Chifubu CBR for therapy and exercises

At Chipukulusu Community Based Rehabilitation they have vocational workshops for young people with learning disabilities.

This is the woodwork workshop.

Off to a great start in Zambia

2009-06-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

It was a good flight even though sleep is difficult due to stopping in Rome, Addis and Lilongwe.

Peter's friends were waiting and manged to get us plus all the STUFF into their vehicle. They drove us all the way back to Ndola over 200 miles and 99 sleeping policeman!

This photo is especially for Andrew's little girl who loves planes.

Daddy in front of the plane that flew him for Addis to Lusaka!

He sends love to all the family

as do the rest of us!

Off to Zambia

2009-06-06T03:19:00.001-07:00

Peter Fitzmaurice (Assistant), Andrew Walters (Carpenter) and Jean Westmacott (Cerebral Palsy Africa Equipment trainer) are leaving today.

This is thanks to Vodafone Foundation who gave Jean a World of Difference award to work for Cerebral Palsy Africa for a year. Her work involves training in Africa and training more people here to be able to help others make Assistive Cardboard Equipment for children with cerebral palsy. See http://www.vodafone.com/world_of_difference/uk_winners/jean.html

Peter and Jean - standing board under construction

Joy, our volunteer artist who has done loads of Appropriate Paper-based Technology (APT), will be joining us on the 13th June.

A bird-chair is emerging

We have been preparing to help two organizations in the Copperbelt.

1. Wukwashi wa Nzambi - doing community-based rehabilitation for children living with disability - around Kitwe and in Chingola
2. Catholic Diocese of Ndola CBR - doing community-based rehabilitation for children and adults living with disability - in and around Ndola

As part of their work to help people with disabilities they are going to be making assistive cardboard equipment. Both organisations have organised workshop places and we will be helping with training in designs and hands-on work to get it all going.

They will have to measure children, work with the physiotherapists on the positioning and then construct the bench, chair or standing frames. So to help we have made up some patterns and Kennett has design special measuring boards to simply the cutting of standing boards. He has also constructed special boxes for the kit and done endless APT sticking such as making the wedge below.

Meanwhile Andrew did a sponsored walk to Brighton.

Thank you to everyone who helped with sponsorship and thanks to Gail his 'Co-ordinating' wife.

Setting off

Thank you for all support from work, friends, family

and the Church of the Good Shepherd, Four Marks.

Continuation

2009-06-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

There is good news from Ghana. A new workshop has opened with 2 of the particpants working hard in Sunyani Regional Hospital

Congratulations!

See the wonderful insert Veronica has made for her daughter and the chair Dorinda has made for her son

People are continuing to make things to help children with disabilities

Ghana Training

2009-06-01T10:07:00.001-07:00

After all the preparations is was so wonderful to arrive at the venue and find people waiting. A Physiotherapy Assistant and a Carpenter had come on a bus through the night from Sunyani. They had been waiting since around 5 am and wonderfully managed to keep going all day. There were 14 people for the entire course and one who could only come for the second week.

The star of the show was the little son of one of the participants. He used tha paper standing frame every day and we could see him improving - His smile was so engaging that we all spent time watching him.

Margriet the VSO physiotherapist who had been busy preparing, helped run the course. She will now be able to run one on her own!

The Happy Faces chair

A Physiotherapy Bench being made

Bench painted with earth and charcoal paint

The goal is that after the course the participants will be able to use the techniques of Appropriate Paper-based Technology to help children with positioning as directed by the physiotherapists and make chairs or standing boards according the size of the child.

Ghana Training Workshop

2009-01-24T05:36:00.000-08:00

Going to Ghana tomorrow!

The first will be a time of preparing with people there. Then two weeks running a workshop on making Assistive Cardboard Equipment using Appropriate Paper-based Technology.

The training workshop is to be held at the New Horizon Special School in Accra.

Cerebral Palsy Africa (CPA)

2008-12-29T06:45:00.000-08:00

Cerebral Palsy Africa (CPA) is a Scottish charity with a mission to help children with cerebral palsy develop and learn the skills to sit, stand, use their hands to be able themselves to make the most of life.
There is more on the CPA website

www.cerebralpalsyafrica.org

Training

Therapy

Training courses are organised to help therapists in Africa to assess and treat the children with different types of cerebral palsy and therefore, different needs.

Equipment

Children learning new skills such as holding their heads, sitting or standing need skilful positioning and the equipment to provide this while at home.

So another aim of CPA is to assist programmes already providing services for families and children with cerebral palsy to make the equipment needed.

Training is given to technicians to make special chairs and standing frames using locally available materials.

Recycling cardboard using Appropriate Paper-based Technology (APT) techniques is cost-effective and the versatility of the methods means that curved backs and other special adaptations can be made.

The small APT chair shown is for measuring children. It shows a removable curved back and footrest. Adaptations such as straps and pelvic support can be added according to needs of each child

Cerebral Palsy

2008-12-17T10:33:00.000-08:00

Cerebral Palsy is for life

Yes for life
Yes for Living

It is different for everyone but as an experienced sage said

'There is no cure; if you have it you have it for life. That's not to say that nothing can be done to help. There are very wide differences in the type and damage caused. In my case I was fortunate that the effects were quite mild, with only slight erratic movements, and some involuntary movements of facial features. This does not affect me, other people yes, but not me'.

So what did he do? He got on with life and overcoming any challenges himself but also went on to help others with cerebral palsy. He was a very good 'overcomer' and helped people make equipment and unique everyday living assistive devices themselves.

He died this year, full of years and experiences.

This blog is simply about experiences in making furniture and assistive equipment for children with cerebral palsy and tying to help others do this in Africa.

So I hope this blog will be a tribute to Pete and all those who overome problems with attitude and with everyday living!

ps. If you are interested to read more about him see Pete's page: http://www.peoplepotential.org.uk/page10.htm