Rehema’s First Steps Toward Independence

Rehema was born in a remote village outside of Iringa, diagnosed with cerebral palsy before her first birthday. By the age of six, she had never taken a step on her own. Her parents, subsistence farmers, carried her everywhere. School wasn’t an option — the nearest one wasn’t accessible, and teachers lacked the training to support a child with her needs. Her mother, Halima, recalled, “I used to pray for someone — anyone — to see my daughter the way I do.”

In 2021, a Healing Hands outreach team visited her village and identified Rehema for rehabilitation support. A physiotherapist began weekly home visits, guiding her family through strengthening and balance exercises. After several months, Rehema was introduced to a walker custom-fitted to her small frame — the first assistive device she’d ever used.

Her progress was slow but steady. In less than a year, Rehema walked into her first day of school, welcomed by teachers who had completed an inclusive education workshop run by Healing Hands. Today, Rehema is thriving — making friends, drawing with crayons, and beaming with pride at her independence. Her mother says, “Now she walks — and not just with her feet, but into a future we never dreamed possible.”