Juma’s Journey to Dignity

At age 19, Juma had never owned a wheelchair. A spinal injury from a fall during childhood had left him paralyzed, and for years, he depended entirely on his younger brother to carry him to the toilet, to church, or to see friends. “I hated being a burden,” Juma said. “It made me feel less than a man.”

Everything changed when Healing Hands Foundation's mobile rehab unit visited his village. Our team assessed Juma’s condition and quickly fit him with a durable, all-terrain wheelchair. But that was just the beginning.

Juma enrolled in peer support sessions, learned basic maintenance for his new wheelchair, and received training in life skills and leadership. He soon became a youth advocate, facilitating disability awareness sessions in his community. Today, Juma manages a mobile phone repair kiosk and independently navigates town markets, schools, and church.

"This chair isn’t just wheels,” Juma says, gripping the rims. “It’s freedom. It’s dignity"