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

Prone Board Group

Planning the pieces for a prone board- Measure three times, cut once

Starting on the all-important joints with Margaret's help and support -

She earned the loving name 'Shuch' - grandmother

 Having fun checking the standing frame is strong enough

The new owner of the standing frame palying with 'You2Toys' Puffin and cliff posting game. It will be varnished and delivered to grandfatehr who looks after him during Mother's work hours

Back to work

The first projects were finished wiht earth Paints made from the Reddish Kenyan soil. The coffeetables continued to be used and enjoyed all week