By Antoinette Hoareau | Project Administration Manager
As part of Springs of Hope Foundation's weekly food distribution program, last week we visited two of our favorite project partners, Malaika Initiative for People with Disabilities (Daycare center) which provides free therapy to children suffering from physical and mental disabilities due to cerebral palsy, meningitis and other birth defects. We are able to provide much-needed food hampers to the mothers, who find it very difficult to juggle earning a modest income as a daily house cleaner or field work and caring for the daily needs of their disabled child. Having a safe, reliable project such as Malaika Initiative is a true godsend to these over-extended mothers. At the request of the project manager, Lydia, our head teacher, Martha designed and taught our students how to sew reusable, washable diapers. Our reusable diapers have become a godsend to mothers as disposable diapers are an expense that is simply out of reach. On this trip, they also requested adult-sized diapers and plastic bibs. We also distributed our washable sanitary pad kits to the mothers and older girls. The donations will go a long way to help Malaika mothers as inflation has made providing one meal a day for their families very, very difficult.
The second group of (PWD) People Living with Disabilities that we have visited on a regular basis since the beginning of the Covid pandemic is at Shabaab Hall in a slum area of Nakuru. At the beginning of the pandemic, we distributed food hampers and facemasks. As we have come to learn of the many struggles this often shunned and ignored section of society has to cope with daily we have included washable diapers for children and adults living with disabilities and washable sanitary kits for teenage girls and adults. Most of the parents of children with disabilities are casual laborers as they cannot hold full-time jobs due to the nature of their child’s disability. Due to their situation, most struggle to afford one decent meal a day. They also have to struggle to buy disposable diapers and medicine for their children. They are always extremely grateful to receive our food hampers along with the washable diapers and washable sanitary pad kits that will ease their struggle to keep their children dry and clean instead of having to use old rags. As for adults and the elderly living with disabilities, they have always had to rely on the kindness of family and neighbors. The Covid 19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on this sector of the community. Our day ended with joy in our hearts knowing that we had made life a little more bearable and touched so many hearts.
Accompanying us were two of our August graduates Regina and Susan who worked to stitch the washable diapers and pads while earning enough money to purchase their own sewing machines. They are now financially able to start their own business.
During the week we were contacted by two new community groups, consisting of the elderly and disabled who need assistance with food hampers. The need is great and, despite the doubling of the cost of basics like beans and maize over the past 8 months, we always feel blessed that, with your support, we are able to say yes to the increasing number of requests.
Warmest blessings,
Antoinette Hoareau
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