Bringing hope to the disabled community

TWENTY-SIX wheelchairs were delivered to eThembeni School for the Disabled to bring hope to the disabled. Welcomed by the Rotary Club of Hillcrest, members of ‘Chair The Hope’, a non-profit organisation, travelled all the way from the United States of America to hand-deliver wheelchairs to eThembeni and other schools recently.

Also read: Rotary Club of Hillcrest shows gratitude

Based in Boise, Idaho, USA, the organisation’s mission is to inspire hope and improve the quality of life through the gift of mobility.

The organisation distributes these wheelchairs in person all around the world, and it was KwaZulu-Natal’s turn last week.
“Twenty-two donors travelled at their own expense from the USA to deliver the wheelchairs. The Rotary Club of Hillcrest facilitated the delivery of the wheelchairs from the shipping container. The itinerary for the day also included taking the visitors to Ikhethelo Children’s Home, Embocraft Training Centre and Fulton School for the Deaf.

“On the day of the delivery, the donors were entertained by the children and staff at the school. Our visitors were treated to a South African braai and entertainment by the pupils. Their sign language choir is so very moving,” reported the Rotary Club of Hillcrest.

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Nathan Ogden, co-founder of Chair The Hope, brought a message of hope to the children of eThembeni. In his address, he said, “Never give up hope – your dreams that tomorrow will be better and that you matter and have value are so important.”

Cynthia Zuma, deputy principal at eThembeni School, thanked both the Rotary Club of Hillcrest and Chair The Hope for their support and bringing hope to the children of the eThembeni School.

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