For a child with a disability, independent mobility is a key determinant of their educational journey. But for most families in our partner communities, the mobility support their child needs is not available. Assistive devices, like wheelchairs, braces, and walkers, are difficult to find, and those that are available are often expensive and poorly suited to the local environment.

Our new partner, Kyaro Assistive Tech is a Tanzanian social enterprise that is on a mission to change that. They design, manufacture, and distribute appropriate assistive devices across East Africa. What’s important is that devices are designed in collaboration with users, through an iterative process of interview and feedback, to be affordable, appropriate, and inspiring for their users.

For the first time, in October 2023 So They Can facilitated Kyaro Assistive Tech to conduct a school-based screening and assessment for children across all of our partner schools. Twelve children were confirmed to be in need of assistive devices, and follow up home visits were facilitated.

5-year-old Maria, a pre-primary student at Gijedabung Primary School was one of the children assessed, and she received her first wheelchair. Not long after she was born, Maria became ill, and she broke several of her body parts, including her arm and leg. Her parents were devastated when their baby was diagnosed with brittle bone disease. With no means to follow the medical advice that she needed further specialised treatment and a special diet, they resorted to natural approaches, including restricting Maria’s movements.

‘I had to carry her on my back and take her to school. I am relieved and comforted to see that my daughter has received the assistance of a wheelchair. Now I have time to complete other home chores.‘

Veronika, carried her daughter to school every day, a 2km one-way trip.

‘Thank you for recognising my challenge and giving me a wheelchair that will enable me to attend my lessons at school without worry. Now I want to go to school with my wheelchair, and I am also grateful to my classmates for giving me help to take me to school and back.‘

Maria, pre-primary student at Gijedabung Primary School.

Disability inclusion is one of the cross-cutting issues that is central to So They Can’s development approach. All of our school infrastructure work is inclusive, and we provide direct, ongoing training to teachers, students, community members and our Champions.

Since its founding in 2021, Kyaro Assistive Tech has delivered over 850 assistive devices in East Africa. To date 12 children have been referred for mobility support from across So They Can’s partner schools, with further identification and assessment activities planned before the end of the year.