Training in Burundi

 Paper Furniture Volunteers helping Marian (above on right) prepare to go to Burundi 

with Handicap International. 

She was getting ready to teach APT techniques and needed to have some examples.

All relaxing after work!

 The finished chair showing Ama's gorilla

 Planning

 Making paste

 Insert supports emerging

Checking

 Shaking cement dust out of bags and pasting on final layer

 Looking good

Plaster of Paris inserts were made as well

 APT inserts seats!!

Training with Able Child Africa at Child Support Trust Tanzania

 Janet and John got safely to Tanzania for the training people from Child Support Trust in Mbeya. 

They run and school for child with disabilities

                            John carrying box of teaching examples - it arrived a few days later!

A good way to practice the techniques is to make a small stool/bench

Measuring using the chair made by Paper Furniture Volunteers

Calculations

Making with a stone helping!

Checking

Chair too small

Chair just right!

Cerebral Palsy Africa

As you can see they made toys too.....

 What an achievement!

Bye!!

Working with Able Child Africa and Child Support Trust, Tanzania

Janet and John have gone to run a course in Tanzania.
Paper Furniture Volunteers helped by making some teaching models for them to take as examples.

NEWS from Janet today

When  Noelah(Director) took us to the Child Support Tanzania base on Monday, all of the participants were waiting for us, a huge supply of corrugated cardboard boxes had been collected and they were raring to go.  We just decided to spent a little time on introductions and outlined the process of APT explaining that they would learn through practical hands-on teaching.  The following day, we showed them how to cut and laminate the board, and cut a large supply for future pasting. So, by the end of our now official First Day we have a huge supply of pasted board in the drying frames.
Everyone is so eager to learn, and at the end of the day yesterday James (a young man from Uganda) said he thanked  God for all that he had learned, and also for his good teachers.  What a lovely encouragement for us!

Delivering the reclining chair

Sadly this child's mother died but he has a very loving grandmother and grandfather who were delighted wiht his new seat

Able to sit comfortably and socialise

Knee-block chair and group

This chair was designed to be slightly higher as the girl who needed it has athetosis and a strong dystonic spasm with her right arm. She is usually in a wheelchair but lies in it with her right arm tied back to stop the spasms. She pushes herself with her feet but this exacerbates the extended position. Instead we wanted her to sit so she can do her school work with her arms on the desk or tray and able to see what her hands are doing. We were not sure if she would still push if her feet were on the floor so we made the chair higher so her feet could hang or we could add a footstool.

 Starting with the first cut pieces

Pasting back the 'fingers' from the tension rods

 Making a ramp so the chair can be tipped forward so gravity can help the girl to stabilise herself

Pasting in the supports for ramp

Trial day - checking the chair.
She needed a pelvic support and support behind her left side where she leant sideways

 We also discovered that she instead of extending with her feet touching something,
the footrest helped her fix herself

A quick test with her before she left-
the extra support helped her practise her writing much to the group's delight.

Reclining Chair Group

We visited a child before the training who has a dislocated hip and scoliosis plus cerebral palsy. He needed a reclining chair with a lot of cusomization. The group with Kennett had to learn to make the chair plus do quite a number of adaptations. Once the chair was constructed and he had been sitting in it, adaptations were decided and added. Happily Rachael, the physiotherapst was in the group so could use her skills to help with each decision.

 Making the tight tension joints - essential to keep the chair sides together and strong

Paper straps all over

Trial day - the chair is tipped back using a wedge

He needed to be propped up on the right side

 New supports added to the right hand side

Earth painting with Kenya earth paint

Upright chair group

 Timothy, fourth to the right, was a participant in the APT course in Mtwapa in 2009 - now after making things in the field he is a facilitator for this group.

Making a tray - the chair will be used by a child who has difficulty in sitting so that he can concentrate on school work.

Trying the new chair with the child to see if any adjustments are needed

 Pointing to the correct objects - it looks as if the chair will do hiim well at school

Having fun with teh giraffe puzzle