Home Visits: Linda

Linda is in a very unfitted imported wheelchair that she got in Arusha. She had one of the Free Wheelchair Mission chairs, but only kept it for a day before exchanging it in Arusha for her current one. She said for washing and for indoor activities the wheelchair she has is ok, but it's difficult to transport because it isn't foldable. She found the footrests to be cumbersome when she maneuvered and went about her day, so she removed them and uses a piece of cloth instead. That can't be comfortable, but I guess at least it's easier to get around.

Several years ago, she discovered that she had a tumor in her back and since has been confined to a wheelchair. Last year, she got her wheelchair new in Arusha, but it looks much older. It's difficult to imagine that she's only had it for a year. The seat is literally falling apart and the wheels look like they need to be replaced.

She has one daughter, Matrona (5 yrs old and adorable), and is living with her mom. For income, she has a small business selling sunflowers and sewing. She's looking forward to having a better, fitted, foldable wheelchair, because she'll be able to use public transportation and expand her business. She will still need to rely on her nephew to aid in getting to the bus stop (when I say the roads leading to her house are ridiculous, that doesn't do them justice), but she will be able to go to town herself to buy things instead of relying on others.

She's hoping to obtain a microloan for 200,000 Tsh ($167) so that she can expand her tailoring business. She has a sewing machine in her home, but currently depends on customers bringing their own cloth. With the money, she would be able to buy cloth and have customers choose from her home. I hope these meetings in Dar Es Salaam go well this weekend, because there's a lot of potential growth. I've met several people who already have small businesses and have plans for expansion, but they need something to take them to the next step.