There were two spare standing frames at the Romanian centre which fitted into the cars of the Moldovans. Two days later they were in use! Before receiving the equipment, neither child had the experience of standing.

The little girl was very happy with the result and her mum was amazed! They took the stander home with them and will be followed up in two months.

The little boy can now access all areas of the rehabilitation centre in the stander, and can reach and play much more than he could when he was lying down.

“Thank you for this amazing gift!” was the response from the paediatrician Dr. Gincota.

“In July 2023, I met a real gentleman named Harry Franks. He told me about the wonderful charity in which he is involved and the work they are doing to get equipment to where it is most needed. I was interested and very happy to respond. However, I had absolutely no idea, of the scope of work, nor of the commitment and dedication of its volunteers.

We continued corresponding, and while I was with my husband on sabbatical in the UK Harry offered to present our NGO, Khethiwe Rehab Centre, to the board. This was followed by confirmation that PhysioNet would ship a container to South Africa for Khethiwe and the other organisations that we work with. I honestly do not think that the reality of this gift dawned on me until I saw the word container, it is just too large to take in. When you have spent over 30 years working in vastly underserved areas and making do with whatever comes to hand, such generosity is almost beyond belief.

Now here we are, the container has arrived and I can hardly believe my eyes. My staff are just speechless because they cannot believe so much equipment could ever come our way. Are we really getting all this equipment? This is way beyond our wildest dreams. After all, some of our clients live in shocking conditions in single rooms or shacks, often with no water or electricity… They are all poor and struggling to make ends meet, but characterised by the fierce self-sacrificial love that a mother has for her child with disabilities. They will all be delighted to be blessed in a way they never imagined and we will be filled with joy and laughter when we distribute this incredible gift.

Thank you seems inadequate for what you, at PhysioNet are doing for us and thousands of others who are among the most marginalised in society; and living with a child who has a disability. Do you even know what an amazing blessing you are to those who benefit from your efforts?

On behalf of the team at Khethiwe, and the kiddies and their families that we serve, our delighted thanks and huge excitement as we wait to see what this huge container has in store for us. With our delighted thanks and anticipation.”

Glenys Ross; Andiswa Zukulu and the Khethiwe Team

From our perspective TDAI and the tight-knit Tigray community in the UK constitute an ideal recipient. The photo below includes a good number of Tigray people, some of whom had come from London and Edinburgh, proudly waving their flag.

‘Muscle’ provided by half-a-dozen Tigray men proved invaluable as the container, which had been pre-loaded from a facility in Leeds, needed to be partially unloaded before being filled with the most suitable equipment.

A challenging journey lies ahead. North Yorkshire to a UK port. Then, because of problems in the Red Sea, the long way round by sea via the Cape to Djibouti. Finally the 660km overland to Makelle. It is not surprising then that this, and the two previous shipments, cost nearly £30k! (These costs were paid promptly by a Tigray charity in London.)

The photo above shows Dr. Abraha Derso and his wife Sharon, cutting a special cake. The cake was our way of expressing our appreciation for them mobilising Tigrayan support in UK and also for their contacts in Makelle, essential for getting the first consignment safely to destination. Without their help these shipments simply would not have happened.

“In a previous letter I didn’t really mention all my gratitude and appreciation for the wheelchair that you gave me. Thank you very, very much! I have been using it for the past year and in all this time I feel absolute and boundless freedom!

On a visit to Manchester I had my first ballroom dancing class. I dreamed of trying dancing in a wheelchair and I finally succeeded! In that wheelchair I started a completely new chapter in my life, as a professional wheelchair dancer. I won a dance competition for people with disabilities “Dance Westminster” and I did it in your wheelchair! Afterwards I took part in a number of training workshops around the country. I was working as an assistant in “Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance”. We were introducing students to dance involving physically disabled people. I also finished the first year of a programme for young choreographers. Then last April I toured with the UK’s first all-wheelchair dance company “Propel Dance”, where we re-imagined the fantastical fairytale ‘The Snow Queen’.

Hopefully next year there will be an opportunity to do a tour around the whole UK. I was also selected and accepted into the National Dance Youth Company! I just have no more words, all these amazing moments happened thanks to you and your truly significant gift! Thank you very much! I certainly wouldn’t have done any of this without your help!“

“The process of importing, checking, transportation and storage has now been completed! I have no words to describe how GRATEFUL we are for your kind donation! Thank you so much! …We are amazed to be honest! … I am so happy that we can finally fulfil the dreams of our families! Thank you again.”

The picture shows Eugen, who, we are told, is benefiting from “independence and better social interaction” through using a new powered wheelchair which was sent in the consignment. We’re delighted to hear this as we are to hear that Lia, Elisei and Matei (and many others) are similarly making good use of the equipment donated.