Making APT benches in Burkina Faso

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The happy team members

Area Chairman and Tiwi Group members giving gifts

Chairs

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