An Update from Dickson

I want to share with you an update that I have regarding a Mobility Cart beneficiary. His name is Dickson.

Perhaps you remember him.

I met Dickson in January of 2023 when a team from our shop visited Kenya. There, we were hosted by our distribution ally, Partners for Care. PFC is lead by founder, Connie Cheren. You may have met Connie last year when she spoke at our volunteer reception.

Thanks to Peter Gunga, a Kenyan staff member of PFC, I have updates about how Dickson and his family are benefiting from the Mobility Cart that you gave them.

Peter interviewed Dickson and in addition photographed and videoed Dickson and his family.

"My name is Dickson Nguzo Philip. I am forty five years old. I have a wife and we are blessed together nine children. We live in Mtsangamali, a bushy village in Kilifi county about 300 miles from Malindi town. I depend on farming to feed my family."

"The eldest child is now fourteen years old and the youngest is three years old. Their names are as follows: Harusi, Dennis, Selina, Moses, Karisa, Lilian, Wilson, Victoria, and Elizabeth."

"I was born normal but at the age of six years suffered from an unknown disease that made my muscles and joints very weak. I used to crawl for many years and by the age of 30 years I started feeling energized. I then realized that I can walk around but with the help of a stick. My family said that I was bewitched, others thought that it might be a curse from the gods but my late mother kept on encouraging me. I later developed a hunchback and my right foot shortened."

"I received my first cart in 2023 when Peter visited our village to inform our village elder that there would be a free distribution of mobility devices and everybody in need was supposed to attend. The  day of distribution, I woke up at 3am together with my wife to the point where we were supposed to be for me to get the cart. It was a distance of about 15 miles."

"I remember, we traveled on foot because we had to. I thank God, we didn’t meet hyenas nor buffaloes. 

"At around 11:30am, we met the group of Americans accompanied by Peter and his friends at GIS marketplace. I was happy when they taught us how to assemble the carts and own them without a penny. That was a miracle from heaven!"

"I use the mobility cart for transport most of the time. I carry water from the swamp, firewood, going to church and to the farm."

"The only problem or challenge that I have with this cart is when it rains. Our roads are narrow, muddy and sticky. You’ll need a helper even when visiting the toilet (bush)."

"I have a neighbor that we normally share this gift with him. He was unlucky the day I got mine because he was sick and didn’t attend the distribution."

"If by any chance these devices can be installed some electrical motors that are solar-driven, I am very sure that this will the end of our problems completely. We won’t depend too much on helpers by the road side again."

"Thank you and may God bless your organization for raising me from the dirt. Blessings!"