Day 6 - Wheels for the World in Jinja, Uganda 2022

Day 6 - Wheels for the World in Jinja, Uganda 2022

a tech works on adjusting a child's wheelchair

We've got an amazing Wheels for the World team hard at work in Jinja, Uganda until the 18th June -- they'll be distributing and fitting wheelchairs to local disabled people with the partnership of our friends at RILD. Here's Rob's update from day 6. We'll post updates as often as data and time allow -- please do pray for the team and recipients over the next week and a bit.

Day 6:

39 people seen. 18 of those needing wheelchairs. Only 15 generic chairs left in stock!

Today was a second very busy day as hoped and expected.

It's been such a daily joy of the team to regularly see recipients overflowing with joy and delight in moving for the first time in their wheelchair.

One lady had not been pre-assessed but came anyway. As our pre-assessed list ended today she was fortunate to get a chair. She couldn't hold back her child-like grin at moving in her chair without crawling on the ground!

Today we had a visit from the local media! Good to give an interview about the work here and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities.

A teaching assistant came today with 3 children from a disability school. They all got wheelchairs as needed and the 4 of them, plus chairs, went home on two motorbikes!

A joyful day, but the challenge begins as we have run out of all but very large chairs. It's like the meat is eaten and just the bones left as the locals may say. Tomorrow will be a challenge as almost all chairs will need padding out and adapting before giving.

Keep praying for energy for the team as we keep up a good working pace into a hard day tomorrow. Thank you all!

Two people smiling - one is in their new fitted walker
a new recipient tests out their chaiar
A look across the distribution site, with people sitting waiting to be seen underneath a shelter
a young man with his new wheelchair, with his brothers on either side of him
a young girl in her new wheelchair with a family member
Team members and a young girl in her new wheelchair
Team members interviewed for the local news
One recipient kneeling as they make their way across the floor
A child and team member praying together
A child testing out their new walker across the distribution centre
Loading up a family and a new wheelchair on a motorbike
A team member and a mobility aid recipient smiling together after a fitting
a child in a yellow football top sits in his new walker
The wheels for the world team meeting the local partners
A rainbow spotted over the distribution site
A mother and child reading a book while they wait for a fitting
Assessing a potential recipient
Making adjustments to some foam and wheelchair parts
A child in a red t shirt in their new wheelchair
The team wheelchair races, as one team member celebrates crossing the line while another pushes them
Recipients and family gathered waiting in the distribution centre
One new recipients lifting up his arms in celebration
Fitting a buggy for a young child
Inside the team van after buying foam for wheelchair adjustments

1 2