Thank you for helping Noah stand up!

From Vivienne Kernohan at ROKPA in Zimbabwe

Noah Kafando getting used to his standing frame

Dear Readers,

I am happy to be sharing some wholeheartedly wonderful news from Vivienne Kernohan at ROKPA Support Network in Zimbabwe! Vivienne helps run ROKPA in Zimbabwe, a not-for-profit Buddhist organisation that supports some of the country’s neediest people.

As some of you will know, I lead groups on Mindful Safaris to Zim every year, and last year I spent some post-safari time with Viv, who told me about a 14 year old boy called Noah whose cerebral palsy meant that he spent all day, every day, lying on a mattress.

Can you imagine spending all your formative years lying down? Or having a child in that situation because you couldn’t afford to the support he needed, modest though that may seem?

I immediately said that we (i.e. me with the support of you, my Substack subscribers) would help.

I have been so looking forward to finally sharing this news with you today!

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From Vivienne:

We're very hot here in Zimbabwe, even though the weather should be cooling down by mid April. The El Niño weather phenomena has reduced our normal summer rainfall and destroyed our maize growing season, so serious hunger beckons this coming year.

At the Chitungwiza Relief Day Care Centre for children with disability, life goes on as usual, even though our main hall (which lacks a ceiling that would help cool it down) gets very hot by midday.

Noah, one of our regular kids, is aged 14 and like several others at the centre, was born with severe cerebral palsy; his condition means he can’t sit up on his own and spends most of his time lying down, so he can’t join in activities like art and play.

Noah used to spend most of the day lying on a mattress

Noah’s mum Cathrine says, “Noah is generally a happy boy and always smiles when you talk to him. He enjoys music and watching others play ball games and makes cooing sounds when he’s excited or grateful. At home his younger brothers usually play with him lying on the floor and help him hold things, but when it's time to eat, he needs to be supported so that he can sit upright.”

Last October, we hosted a workshop led by an art therapist and Cathrine cried because Noah could not really join in. We decided we needed to buy a standing frame so that kids like Noah can join in activities, as well as to see life from an upright position like everyone else!

Enter David Michie – and all you lovely people who support his projects here on Substack – who donated the money that allowed us to buy a standing frame, which has now been delivered.

The frame is adjustable and supports Noah’s body so he is free to use his hands and can be fed without someone holding him. Importantly, it also means he is able to have eye contact with others, which helps him develop his social skills. Georgina, our therapist, says a standing frame is really important for children like Noah, because it also helps improve their blood circulation and decongests their chests.

Here is Noah trying out the standing frame – you can see his excitement at being upright and having his mother, Catherine, help him to paint.

Cathrine says, “I am so happy – now Noah can join in activities like all the others. I really appreciate the help – and Noah is very happy too!”

We at ROKPA Support Network are also extremely happy to have been able to add this important tool to support our relief day care children – THANK YOU!

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David with Vivienne Kernohan at the Harare Buddhist Centre, September 2023

Hi, it’s David again.

If you are wondering why something as basic as a standing frame, not to mention other services, weren’t available to Noah a long time ago, this is because Zimbabwe is one of the poorest countries in the world. The social welfare payments, health services and other government support that we take for granted in developed countries simply don’t exist there.

It is also often the case that women and children have to fend for themselves, because their partners can’t find work at home or in other countries to which they migrate.

In such a difficult and hopeless situation, the dollars we are able to donate, and the results they bring, are cherished in ways we can’t begin to imagine.

In a very direct way, your subscription to this newsletter is helping countless living beings - including Noah and his family.

I would like to add my own heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your support. Thank you for not just feeling sad, but for taking action to help others. Thank you for joining our small, global community motivated by compassion. Thank you for transforming others’ experience of reality in the most positive and extraordinary way. What could the result of that possibly be?!

May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness!

May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering!

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