SimonB

Some of you may have noticed that during this past week, a new NPO (Non Profit Organisation) made it’s appearance in the local blogasphere.  The NPO know as Ama Wheelies has started using twitter, facebook and other social platforms to create awareness.

What is Ama Wheelies?

The South African government has for the last few years been looking for creative ways not only to give quadriplegics a better life but also to help them to become self sustaining.

Enter Ama Wheelies - The Wheelchair Farmers of Thabachweu

Ama Wheelies, a NPO founded by Barry Botes (who is also a quadriplegic), aims to create a self help centre for quadriplegics in Thabachweu (Lydenberg). The centre when complete will provide accommodation for 25 Quadriplegics and Paraplegics.  Various projects which will be developed on location in Thabachweu will give members of this unique quad community the chance to once again be self sufficient, while at the same time not being a burden on the government or community.

Ama Wheelies is registered as a NPO no: (2008/021003/08) in terms of the Non-profit Organizations Act, 1997, all donations will be acknowledged with a receipt.

Why the need for Ama Wheelies?

Due to expenses and difficulties in looking after quadriplegics, most quadriplegics in South Africa end up living in old age homes.  Although this may seem like a good place to look after quads, it is quite unfair on them, especially because many are still young and so full of energy and life.  Yes a quad might be paralyzed from the head down but this does not mean they are dead. Many of the more than 700 individuals who incur serious spinal injuries every year in South Africa are well educated and loosing these individuals is very bad for the economy of South Africa. Thus the need to help relocate these individuals to self help centre’s and give them the chance to once again be self sufficient.

How can you get involved?

There are many ways to get involved, you could help promote the Ama Wheelies twitter, facebook or blog, alternatively you could help by making a donation to this cause.  More than R75000.00 ($9500) is needed every month to cater for the enitial quads who will first be calling Ama Wheelies home and Ama Wheelies needs to start raising this money before making the move to Thabachweu.

Please do not hesitate to RT or Re-blog this information or forward it to anybody able to offer assistance.