Clinical Case Manager Sally, alongside her family, is involved in a charity called Alongside Africa.
Alongside Africa is a UK based not for profit organisation, committed to a world in which every person has the opportunity to earn a living. They focus on providing opportunities, not aid, and their efforts are geared towards developing countries, initially in Africa.
Alongside Africa are working with a 16-year-old boy called Obama in Uganda. Sadly, in December, Obama was attacked and left for dead, resulting in his needing to have both legs amputated. Sally let SSCM know about Obama’s situation and SSCM are funding Obama for the next six months whilst he is at a rehabilitation centre, this funding will cover things such as his care, food and therapy.
Obama initially settled in at the rehab centre, learning how to live with his disability and receiving counselling.
The charity is organising materials and supporting him to make paper beads and ladies’ sandals to help with his down time in between therapy sessions and provide him with an income in future when he leaves the rehabilitation centre. However, like any teenager – he’s desperate for a mobile phone to stay in touch with friends and watch football on! The charity is currently raising funds to get him a wheelchair and mobile phone.
Recently Obama’s motivation has decreased and he was asking to leave the rehabilitation centre. The staff from Alongside Africa encouraged him to stay and he has just returned from a two week holiday at home. The team are planning to take him a knitting machine to use to also be able to make a living from when he is motivated to do so.
It shows how rehabilitation is not a linear process and individuals such as Obama who have had such a catastrophic injury have a long journey ahead.
Working with our clients in the UK, SSCM are aware of how early intervention and therapy following a traumatic event can make a huge difference to the outcomes for a client. SSCM are pleased to be able to support Obama in his initial therapy to hopefully make some great progress in the next six months. We look forward to hearing updates from Uganda and we will keep everyone updated on how Obama is getting on.
If you would like to find out more about Alongside Africa or make a donation, please click here.
If you would like your donation to go specifically to Obama, please put Obama in the additional information / comments box.
