(MENAFNEditorial) iCrowdNewswire - Jul 24, 2017 Wheelchairs for Moroccan kids ‘Red goes faster'A little bit of context
Red goes fasterwas established in the ‘red city' Marrakesh, Morocco by Michelle Hank, Brahim Tigharmin, Carmel Debreuil and Louise Rogers.
After 20 years of living in Morocco and working with the visually impaired and disabled, Michelle saw a great demand for wheelchairs, in particular for children. ‘Red goes faster' was born from her friendship with Marrakshi local, Brahim Tigharmin, who is a polio survivor and in a wheelchair himself.
Red goes fasterhas joined with an Australian based not for profit organisation in Perth -Wheelchairs for kids Australiawho build all terrain wheelchairs for children in developing countries.
154 new wheelchairs and spare parts will arrive in Casablanca in July 2017 .Our challenge is to raise enough money to pay for the shipment of these wheelchairs to Casablanca and then be transported to Marrakesh where they are distributed to the kids.
All persons involved are volunteers and there are minimal administration costs.
But there's a problem
Availability and affordability mean children's wheelchairs are not easy to access . Mothers often carry their disabled kids on their back and when they become too big they are unable to leave the house. Many of these disabled children never go outside , don't go to school, feel isolated and see their small world within the confines of their house looking up from a mattress which leads to further mental and physical complications .
Desperate for mobility many kids are put into umbrella strollers or second hand adult wheelchairs that are too big and not secure. A poorly fitted chair can cause more harm than good .
Here's what we're doing about it
In April 2016 we sponsored an Occupational Therapist from Australia to run a 4 day training session in Marrakesh. Now we have around 8 trained local volunteers . We will be holding another volunteer training session in Marrakesh on the 23rd and 24th September, 2017.
Participants that receive the training are selected from organisations interested in receiving the wheelchairs for the children they work with or individuals that are wanting to volunteer in their community . This means there is someone to provide ongoing support with assembling, fitting and maintenance of wheelchairs in that organisation/community .
These fully adaptable, rough terrain wheelchairs are fitted according to World Health Organisation standards, usually in the family home which means neighbours, family members and sometimes others in the village become involved, encouraging support and integration. Each chair takes around 3 to 4 hours to fit so the child feels safe, secure and comfortable.
One wheelchair has immense impact - it takes pressure of family/carers and opens up a new world of mobility and socialisation.
Every story warms your heart but some of our milestones have been kids now able to go to school , mix with peers, keep score at the local football match and terminally ill kids able to spend their last months out and about with their families.
Every child a new story
Abderzaks story ……
Abderazak was the first child to receive a new wheelchair. This gift has changed this young boy and his family's life. Not only can he now leave his living room but he is attending school, making new friends and opening the doors to an exciting future full of possibilities.When asked how the wheelchair had changed his life, Abderzak told us he was now chief scorer at the local street football matches !
See more stories at fb.me/redgoesfastermorocco
You can join us
Carmel, Louise and Michelle have been spreading the word and fundraising in Australia but there are only so many chook raffles and moroccan dinner parties one can host !
We are now looking for sponsorshipor donations to help with the costs of freight from Perth to Morocco and then the distribution within Morocco.
Donations as little as $5 helps us a lot
Sponsor one child's wheelchair $200
Donate time, money or expertise to help us. THANK YOU
Team Members
michelle hank
louise rogers
Contact Information:
Red goes faster
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