‘I want to give other disabled people hope’

Born with spina bifida, Carol had to deal with a childhood of discrimination and rejection by her father, who ran away from the family home.

The stigma surrounding disability remains a sad reality in many developing countries, meaning that disabled people are often abandoned, or shunned from schools, workplaces and society.

As a child in Nairobi, Carol grew up with her mother and two siblings, but felt like she was the only disabled person in the world – alone in being unable to do things for herself – and she was left feeling distressed, helpless and lonely.

It was through her grandmother, who encouraged her to play wheelchair basketball at school, that she met staff from Motivation.

Motivation helped Carol see there was a way forward. Photo copyright (2017) Matt Grayson, all right reserved

They helped Carol to see there is a way forward.

The Bristol-based charity launched in 1991 and, to this day, provides wheelchairs, support and training for thousands of disabled people in developing countries, where mobility is often the key to survival.

Motivation continues its work to empower disabled people in developing countries and – from its Bedminster base – is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technology, having been granted funding for a 3D printing pilot of wheelchair parts.

Through the charity, Carol not only found out that she is not alone, but crucially, learnt to better understand how she can keep healthy and active.

She attended Motivation’s peer training, where she learnt wheelchair skills and bladder management techniques from other wheelchair users; she started to feel less isolated and also found out about the rights of disabled people.

Carol’s life has now changed for the better – she has the confidence to look to the future and realise her dreams.

“I now feel comfortable with myself,” she said. “I want to be self-employed. I used to work in a call centre, but I left because of the management. They took advantage because I was in a wheelchair.

“So I’d like to have my own beauty shop. I already have the skills to be a beautician and I would like the opportunity to run and manage a business.

“I want a family. And I want to give others hope. I want to train another disabled person – tell them they can live and do all the things they say they can’t do.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdmaTudJHqU

Motivation’s ‘Ready, Willing and Able’ appeal is based on the firm belief that disabled people in the developing world are ready for change. Not only are they willing to play a full and active part in society, but with the right support and training they are able to take control and drive the change they want to see in their lives.

Donations given to the appeal will help Motivation equip people like Carol with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to get into employment.

It will also allow the charity to challenge discrimination and change attitudes, so that disabled people can be included in society and work.

Facts of life for disabled people in developing countries:

• 70 million people worldwide need a wheelchair.
• 80 per cent of disabled people in developing countries live in poverty.
• 90 per cent of disabled children in the developing world do not go to school.

*Source: Motivation.

Visit www.motivation.org.uk to find out more about the appeal and make a donation. Plus if you donate before March 3, 2018 your gift will be doubled by the UK Government, meaning it will go twice as far.

Alternatively, call the charity on 0117 9660 398 or write to Motivation, Unit 2, Sheene Road, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4EG.

Read more: ‘In many developing countries, disability is down on the bottom rung’