Residents and well-wishers in Igoji Sub County, Meru County, joined hands to organize a meaningful event to provide mobility assistance to people with disabilities (PWDs).
This event, held on Saturday, July 15, was a heartwarming occasion where PWDs were presented with valuable resources. Donations included white canes for the blind and walking aids for the elderly to ease their movements.
The event, coordinated by Igoji Residents & Development Initiative Association (IRANDI), was held at St Joseph’s Pry School Igoji in Meru.
IRANDI is a community-based association registered in Igoji Sub County, Meru County with a core mandate of promoting the interests of the Igoji Community.
Several partners rallied behind the cause and generously supported the event. Among them were Master Empowerment Center, Partners for Care, Visual Pigmentosa Aids Initiative, Tigania West MP Dr. Mutunga John Kanyuithia, Chairperson Warehouse Receipts System Council Felicity Nkirote Biriri, and numerous philanthropists.
Their collective efforts, alongside the dedication of the residents and well-wishers, made it possible to impact the lives of PWDs in the community substantially.
“Various leaders highlighted the need for caregivers inclusion in the benefits allocated by government, including but not limited to tax relief and access to procurement to PWDs since most of them are unable to attend to their usual activities as they concentrate on giving care to the differently abled,” a statement by IRANDI read.
St Lucy’s for the Blind Primary School choir performed at the event, showcasing their gifts and skills in music. The choir, renowned for competing at national levels, has continued to prove that being abled differently is not an obstacle to success.
Meanwhile, the beneficiaries lauded the organizers and well-wishers and underscored the need for more support.
Among the items in need are braille papers and textbooks, braille machines and embosser machines to ease study at St Lucy’s for the Blind Primary School and St Lucy’s High School for the Blind, both in Igoji.
They also requested the establishment of a centre where parents with mentally challenged children can receive good care and education from experts and a centre where those with physical challenges can receive physiotherapy services.
Local and national governments were urged to allocate public land for the establishment of an empowerment centre where residents would be taught skills in embroidery, tailoring, catering, salon and other skills to enable the caregivers to make a living.
Financial institutions and other organizations were further asked to partner in the provision of capital to facilitate those with mobility carts to start small businesses such as ice cream parlours and confectioneries.
The organizers promised to look into the request and called upon well-wishers to join in and better the lives of the area residents.
For any inquiries or how to donate, kindly click here to fill out a form, and an IRANDI advocate will get back to you.
You can also contact IRANDI via phone call or WhatsApp +254719712031
IRANDI, Msingi Thabiti.
