Joseph Gathuru
I am Joseph Gathuru and I am 21 years. Since December 2009 I am working as a volunteer at Maji Mazuri Kasarani Children Centre that mainly deals with children who are mentally and/or physically challenged. I choose to volunteer at Maji Mazuri as a way to give back to the society in general because Maji Mazuri has transformed my life. I am proud to be a Maji Mazuri reporter. This is a chance to show this wonderful organisation my appreciation. It sponsored me through high school and now they are sponsoring me to undertake an undergraduate degree in commerce at the University of Nairobi.
The new Kiserian High school building-A child's perspective
My class is the one you saw near the fence when you visited our school last Sunday. I was here when they started you know, one day, these men came with the tools you use to dig, and dug this huge square outside our class. My teacher says it’s a rectangle, did I spell that right?
Then one morning this really big truck came and dropped very many bricks, I tried counting them but I had not finished by break time so I did not finish. But I raised my hand in class and asked my teacher, she’s very nice, and helps me color, I asked her and she told me they were making a new school building for the big students, she called them high school, and I guess that’s correct because their classes are way up there.
I watched them build you know, every day, brick by brick, the building got higher, i wanted to help carry but its real heavy, teacher says its made of stone and cement, that’s some dust that’s made into the brick and wall.
So the building is finished now, its real beautiful, you should see the colors inside, they are all painted, and some are very high, now I can see why they call it high school. And I have to study hard now, work on my drawings, make sure my colorings are well done, and learn how to add up real well so that I can go to the next class and soon go to high school. I will be all tall by then and I will know a lot.
On Sunday I told my grandmother about the new school, and about Rotary, they are very nice people you know, and now it is possible for me to go to high school. Grandma says to say thank you. Oh and I also learnt a new word, opportunity. It means that it will be possible for me to get more education and take care of my grandma.
A Therapy Session
A first born and the only child of a single mother Helen Wamuyu, Charles Muhoro aged 9 years. As the darling of majority of the residents of MMCI for a long time he has his plight known far and beyond the walls of the centre.
Having been diagnosed with Hydrocephalus and Osteogenesis Imperfecta, he has been off and on PPO since he has brittle bones thus making him prone to fractures.
Through out he has been under therapy sessions, under the two qualified; occupational therapist and Physio therapist in the centre. The two are working tirelessly to achieve the set goals of the child like;
• Increase muscle strength and endurance of the upper limbs
• Enhance hand functions and prehensile patterns
• Increase muscle strength and endurance in sitting
However the team of the two therapists is working on a tight schedule in a quest to achieve the laid down objectives of;
• Passive and active joint range of motion exercises of upper limbs
• Use of sitting aid for trunk stabilization
The team above identified that Muhoro has a problem in:
• Poor trunk posture and alignment in sitting
• Decreased muscle strength and endurance
After an interview with the therapists they emphasized that “The current goal is attainment of the set objectives. Proper positioning is however recommended since the limbs seem to have atrophied.”
They advised that; Due to multiple mal-s of fractures on the lower limbs, there is formation of improper joints. It is a challenge therefore to exercise them. In this regard, the child experiences lots of pain when the limbs are moved. After removal of the POP, the orthopedic surgeon upon evaluation of the x-rays did not recommend any therapy services for the limbs. The child has to under go periodic review clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Posho Mill at Maji Mazuri Children's Centre
Vibrant children are all that one can see when you enter the main center’s gate. Playing and dancing rythmatically as if following the tune of the loud Posho Mill vibration when in use. Probably it could be the joy the installation of the Posho Mill has brought them, since they know that if all comes to the worse they can still have a meal on the table, as long as dried maize is abundant.
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