A STORY ABOUT LAULENTINIUS WILBERT

Laulentinius Wilbert is a boy aged 15. He was born with spina bifida. He is living with his mother and other 3 siblings in Magata Village- Muleba district. After his birth, his father ran away from the family due to this disability, avoiding the treatment costs in addition to other family needs expenses. All 4 children remained incuding Laulentinus remained in the care of their mother who was/is also very poor.

Dues to MDREO’s awareness program in the community and local leaders, Laulentinus’ mother was linked by community volunteer for further support. Upon admitting him, MDREO provided treatment costs to his mother for him to attend Chato zonal referral hospital on monthly basis up to date for medical attention. Further more, provided nutrition support, sanitary equipment, clothing and pyscho-social support for the family to be resilient on the situation. For the purpose of family economic empowerment sustainability, MDREO provided a small capital of TSHS 250,000 for her mother to start a small business of raw food vending. She is now involved in a business and profit generated is supplementing on family needs like food, clothing and education needs for his siblings.

Due to medical attention, Laulentinus’ health condition is improving to an extent of ability to be involved in small handcrafts. As one of the ways to assure economic support, MDREO has gone further to affiliate Laulentinus to shoe repairing personnels for him to learn. He has been supported with learning/working tools He is now gaining the skills on that. Involvement of a child with disabilities into hand crafts activities has surprised the surrounding community and has cleared a myth that even disability can not be a total inability.