While other children her age run around the streets of the Makause informal settlement, six-year-old Nilfa Mashawiro remains confined to a wheelchair.
Nilfa was born with hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and is partially sighted.
The wheelchair is a recent donation from Vintage Vibes as, before that, Nilfa was using a stroller.
“I met Nilfa and her family during the xenophobic attacks in April, this year,” said member of the Johannesburg East Rotary Club and co-owner of Primrose’s Kennedy Studios, Marion Brown.
“I had gone to the xenophobia refugee camp, in Primrose, just to see what I could do to help.
“During my visit there I was met by Nilfa who was being carried by her mother, Editor Dongo, alongside her father, Brian Mashawiro.”
Brown felt devastated for the family and took it upon herself to help them.
“I was so saddened by what I saw that I made it my mission to get a stroller for Nilfa which I did, shortly thereafter,” she said.
“I always knew that a stroller was a temporary solution, as a wheelchair would be better suited to her.
“I then told my sister, Helena Strijdom, that I was looking for a wheelchair.
“My sister told a former student of mine, Irene Cleeton-Jones, about my plea for a wheelchair.
“My sister and Cleeton-Jones know each other from way back as she (Strijdom) was a deputy headgirl at Hoërskool Goudrif in the same year, 1986, Cleeton-Jones was headgirl.”
Brown said the former headgirl contacted her brother, Jevon O’ Donovan, from Vintage Vibes regarding her appeal.
“My partner, Carolyn Gregorowski, and I were touched to hear about the little girl,” said O’ Donovan.
“We were thrilled when we managed to get a wheelchair for her.”
O’ Donovan and Gregoroswski, who form Vintage Vibes, a vocal and trumpet duo, also donated clothes for Nilfa.
“We are truly grateful for all the help we have received and this wheelchair is wonderful and just what Nilfa needed,” said the girl’s grateful father, Brian.
“In 2009 Nilfa had a Hydrocephalus shunt put in.
“It drains the excess accumulation of fluid from the brain to her stomach, where it can be absorbed.”
“She goes for physiotherapy at the Bertha Gxowa Hospital,” explained Editor.
“The biggest challenge is that my husband and I are both unemployed and we battle to make ends meet.
“He does get part-time jobs in gardening, painting and waterproofing, but it is nothing stable and permanent.
“We really need funds as, among other expenses, I have to go to hospital to buy epileptic medication, every month, to help with the fits.”
“I would love to see Nilfa go to school; that would make us very happy,” said Brian.
“We each of us are angels with only one wing and we can fly embracing each other,” said Brown.
“I am trying my best to help where I can and I really hope the community will join in helping Nilfa and her family, in any way possible.”
“We battle to buy her clothes, toys and healthy food,” explained Brian.
“My wife and I also need clothes and food, but our child comes first; she is our first priority and we would appreciate it if we could get help for her.”
“I believe that our purpose as humans is to help each other,” concluded Brown.
For more information, or to donate, contact Brown on 082 920 6486 or email her on alimar@vodamail.co.za.
