REUBEN WILLIAM MOLELI

My names are REUBEN WILLIAM MOLELI  I am from Iliboru, I was born in 1967 previous I was doing construction work but nowadays I am no longer working. 

It was in 2007 when I was organizing materials for bricks processing, I climbed the tree so as to get some firewood, in a bad lack the tree got twisted and made me fall down. From that day I couldn’t stand with my feet again. I was admitted at the hospital for some time and later brought back home, from that moment I started working using crutches. I got a spinal code injury which leads my body to paralyze, I couldn’t move my legs or feel any pain at that moment. Doctors told me that this situation might take time for me to back in normal situation. I thank God at this moment I can move with crutches though I still feel pain.

Being in this situation I am experiencing lot of challenges, I can’t afford to support my children in their educations and other needs. I have five children both studying in different levels this makes them to depend only on their mother who have to provide everything; this is very difficult as you know education is very expensive. I feel pain to see my wife is the only one who is providing while I used to work with my strength before facing this situation.

I real thank my wife because she does not discriminate me in any ways and she keeps doing everything as normal.

Up to this time I have not reached my dreams. It was my wishes to see my children are studying to higher level of education. I wanted to see my children becoming leaders and managing their lives. I haven’t gave up my dreams because I believe if God will help my wife to get some money, still my children will get education as I wanted. The problem is that it is very difficult for one person to fulfill all family needs. If I could have managed to construct two house of my own for renting business it could help us better. The only house I have is this one, and life is very taught.

I have no any plans for reaching my dreams because I can’t work. The only thing I can do is to watch and guide my children when doing domestic activities and farming.

I am facing few family challenges because when you wake up you have to know that children wants to go to school as well as getting something to eat. They are all depending on one person! It is very difficult but I am thankful to God because he is always on my side.

My advice to the government and the community in general is that they have to provide education to PWD’s and create an environment that will enable them to be product in the society.

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ICD HAS GOT A NEW GOVERNING BOARD

On 9^th September 2012 ICD got a new governing board to oversee its operation.

The board is comprised of six members namely; Dr. Edward Bagandanshwa  (Chairperson), Mr. Mike T’chawi (Vice chairperson), Prof. Mwajabu Possi (Member), Dr. Dina Mbaga (Member), Mr. Greyson Lazaro (Member), and Mr. Fredrick Msigala (Member).

The new board was formed after the death of the previous board chairperson the late: Zephania Kalumuna.

On the photo: ICD board members, standing from left are; Mr. Mike T’chawi, Dr. Edward Bagandanshwa and Mr. Fredrick Mkatambo (ICD Executive Director). Seating from left are; Mr. Fredrick Msigala and Mr. Greyson Lazaro. Two members (Prof. Mwajabu Possi and Dr. Dina Mbaga ) where not available when photo was taken.

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VICKY KIMARO

My names are Vicky Kimaro, I am a teacher residing in Sekei Arusha.

I was born in Hai district Kilimanjaro region. I did not have any disabilities until when I was four my lap nerves were damaged by an injection which was incorrectly injected by an internship doctor.

Thanks to my family who knew that there was something like rehabilitation for the disabled people, my brother took me to KCMC hospital when I was 13,where I was twice operated which kept me surviving for two good years before I started having some pains again on my left lap which forced me to walk with the artificial legs.

I have to admit that I count myself lucky to complete my primary education after staying the whole year at home without schooling.

As a normal child I had a dream when I was a kid wished to be a doctor but I could not be one because of my disabilities, I finally opted for being a teacher. I taught for some time and I had some difficulties caused by the pains in my bones, which gave me some more appealing thoughts. I took it as a challenge and decided to opt for accountancy and treasury courses and I did stage one and two, VETA in typing of which I succeeded very well.

After some time I got a chance to pursue a diploma course in secretary sponsored by Australian sponsors at the Salvation Army in Mbeya. When I finished I worked as secretary and a teacher also.

My wages were low and I could not bear begging from people for various helps and I had to scratch my head again to find something I could do apart from teaching and being a secretary, I later came up with an idea of tailoring and I started being a tailor by practicing it after work. I can’t lie but it raised my standards and with that I was able to buy my new appliance.

As I knew that being educated was the only way to help me out, I was obsessed with the computer knowledge and I gave it a shot too of which I am a successful diploma holder which makes me a technician sometime helping people with the computer problems.

I am very proud of who I am today because my biggest dream ever is fulfilled have always been dreaming of being independent in my life and thanks to God I am. I can absolutely depend on myself and also thank God that I can help others with all I can.

The saying goes that family always come first, God has given me a wonderful family I thank Him for that. It has been very supportive to me when I was sad and when I have been happy too, they are always there, and God bless them.

With all I have seen to here, I can recommend two to three things in our society;

first and foremost is that the society should change the way it treats us, it makes us not comfy in our own surroundings because we cannot even be involved in the decisions making in our society, for sure this has to change so that we can feel alive again.

Secondly, it goes directly to the government, I thank it for recognizing us to the extent of signing the UN treaty in 2009, what I am sort of demanding or requesting is to put it into actions the agreements of the treaty, taking heed of education for example; PWDs love to study but the government is not giving up enough for us.

The government does not give us enough chances since primary level, most of the time what it gives is the free chances to some of the university levels which is not the base. So it’s hard for PWDs like us to go for them because we do not have the base. Furthermore our government does not give us free health services, can you imagine a PWD making a queue with other normal people in a hospital without considering his or her disabilities, we really ask the government to help us put all in action.

Thirdly, it goes to the non-governmental organisations like ICD, all we are asking for them is to help us find sponsors who can help us with various stuffs. Am sure if we will be given enough help we can really stand on our own. Some of us have plans to have our own workshops but what we are all facing is the capital to move forward. So all what I am saying is they help us in this so that we can help other PWDs too.

I would like to thank you for coming, it gives us confidence seeing that normal people are interested with our problems, it really means a lot to me and us in general.

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