"Now we move very nicely! I put her in the wheelchair, get her younger brother and we move!"

Masika lives in Uganda with her mother Gevinah and little brother. She has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and, where she lives, children like her face an uncertain future. Discrimination against disabled people is widespread; many people believe disability is caused by a curse and others see disabled people as a burden.

Sadly, Masika's father felt the same way. He prevented her from getting medical attention and said that his daughter should be left to die. Fortunately, Gevinah found the courage to leave him. She took her children and moved to a new village where she could take care of them alone.

When Gevinah first met Motivation staff, she was invited to join a support group for parents of disabled children. Although the group was within walking distance of Gevinah's home, getting there proved incredibly dangerous. Masika had an old, heavy, adult-sized wheelchair and every few metres, Gevinah had to stop and reposition her daughter to stop her sliding out of her seat and into the road. The journey took the pair two hours.

But the wheelchair wasn't just uncomfortable - it was also extremely bad for Masika's health. The poor fit caused dangerous pressure sores which, left untreated, could prove fatal.

When Gevinah eventually arrived at the support group with Masika, she was instantly referred to a local wheelchair service where she received a Motivation wheelchair. Expert staff assessed and measured Masika before fitting a chair properly and making sure her complex needs were met.

Her new wheelchair is designed to cope with rough terrain and is much easier to push over uneven ground; it now takes just half an hour to get to the support group and Gevinah no longer has to worry about Masika falling out.


Gevinah was laughing when she told us what a difference Masika's new wheelchair has made.

"Now we move very nicely," she told us. "I put her in the wheelchair, get her younger brother and we move!"

And it's not just Masika's life that has changed. Masika is happy, comfortable and content, giving Gevinah more free time to get on with her weaving - something that has the potential to earn more income for the family. The family's social life has also improved.

"I hear [the other children] say they are going to play at Masika's house," Gevinah explained. "They used to come for a minute and then leave, and Masika would cry. Now, they come and take her with them to play! They bring her back when they are all tired."

Now, the entire family is looking forward to a brighter future.

Support Motivation

Support Motivation today to help mothers like Gevinah get the support they need to raise their disabled children, and help children like Masika access the wheelchairs they need to be independent.

Make a donation. Thank you.