Elizabeth and Johnathon’s story.

Meet Elizabeth and her 17-year-old son, Johnathon. Elizabeth had her son at age 21 and since then has had 3 other children aged 12, 7 and 2. After 3 months in the ICU, it was declared that Johnathon had Cerebral Palsy, a life-altering disability that would change both his and his family’s lives forever.

Until 1 year ago, Elizabeth was living in her home with her husband and 4 children, supporting themselves with her small retail shop and his work as a land agent. Her 3 youngest children go to school, however, finding education for Johnathon has proved to be increasingly difficult due to his condition and the expectation that Elizabeth be present for his schooling (to support him and change his diapers etc.)

12 months ago, Elizabeth’s husband found himself in a predicament that left their family in dire financial trouble. He had wronged a client by selling land promised to him to another customer who offered to pay the price upfront rather than in instalments. However, the initial client had already paid a down payment of 2,000,000 TZS (£605). Elizabeth’s husband refused to return this down payment upon selling the land to the newer client as he had spent the money, offering up their home as collateral until the money could be paid. Since then, her husband left and has not been heard from since and Elizabeth risks losing the home in which she and her 4 children reside.

The man to whom the 2,000,000 TZS (£608) is owed has since come to claim the property but has given Elizabeth a small window of time to find alternative living due to the situation of her son, Johnathon.

Elizabeth’s shop and small business ventures have since failed and she has been left with no source of income so was forced to take out loans (1,000,000 from 3 separate loan sharks). This money has been used to pay school fees and the medical bills of her son.

Elizabeth and her family have no alternative living arrangements in place and also cannot afford to pay off the 5,000,000 TZS (£1520.60) in debt which she owes.

How can we help?

Whilst any source of donation can be beneficial for supporting Elizabeth and her family, I am asking for donations specifically for a new wheelchair for Johnathon. His existing chair is quite literally falling apart and can no longer support him, the ‘upholstery’ is plastic bags and cannot be comfortable for this young man.

Johnathon himself is full of life and jokes - making me promise that I don’t forget to attend church with him on Sunday, even me, the mzungu (Swahili for ‘white person’). He deserves to be kept comfortable, and such a chair would make his mother’s life increasingly easier as she works to try and support her children in the face of economic crisis.

She has been supported thus far by an organisation in Moshi (2 hours from her home via public transport) however, accessing this support is increasingly difficult for Elizabeth as she must carry her 17-year-old son on her back due to lack of accessibility to transport around Arusha.

I have proposed moving Elizabeth and Johnathon’s support to a more local team - Kyaro Assistive Tech. (https://www.kyaroassistive.org/) Here, Johnathon can get a brand new chair, designed to fit and support him, as well as being designed specifically for the rough terrain of Arushan roads. Please look at their website (linked below) to see the type of chair that we hope to get. (https://www.kyaroassistive.org/active-wheelchair)

This chair would cost Elizabeth 580,000 TZS (£176) so any money that we raise on top of that will go towards helping pay off Elizabeth's debts so she can move forward with her family.