Able Kids Rehab

The food situation in Malawi is getting worse 😥 If you haven’t donated this year, please consider Able Kids, 125 children can depend on a hot nutritious lunch daily with your help.

https://observatory.wiki/Malawi%E2%80%99s_Farmers_Face_a_Precarious_Future_From_Climate_Change-Related_Storms

Malawi’s Farmers Face a Precarious Future From Climate Change-Related Storms Malawi’s farmers—mostly women—lost their land, livestock, and livelihoods after a storm. They are struggling to recover in a nation considered one of the world’s most affected by extreme weather events.

If you don't know our story, here it is.

Able Kids Rehab & School (Able Kids) is a tiny organization having a big impact throughout the city of Blantyre, Malawi, southeast Africa and far beyond. Able Kids was established over 11 years ago and has been impacting the community in a positive and holistic way improving the lives of children with special needs, and the parents who struggle to manage the challenges of supporting a child with exceptionalities.

My name is Gail Hudson and I am the Lead Member for Able Kids Rehab. I have been connected to Able Kids Founder, Victor Musowa since 2005 when he attended Georgian College, in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, where I work. Victor lived with my husband and I in his final semester of his program and had a profound effect on our lives. From the day I met Victor I knew he was a special soul. Charismatic, brilliant, kind, honest, resourceful and patient are just a few of his character traits. Oh, and he is calm. I think his calmness grows out of a familiarity with adversity, real adversity. He assesses the situation, however complicated or devastating it may be, comes up with a workable solution and calmly moves forward. He is a firm believer that things could always be worse, and even when they are bad, he knows they will get better. While Victor had several attractive opportunities to stay here in Canada after he graduated, he had promised to return to Malawi to provide services that were basically non-existent. He left the comforts and ease of Canadian life to work tirelessly in his tiny developing country of Malawi.

Victor returned to Malawi is August of 2006. He was employed for a charity that focused on orphaned children around the world, including Malawi. Victor and a couple of coworker set-up a small clinic within the Blantyre location dedicated to helping community children with special needs. In 2013 the organization decided to abandon the clinic and focus more on the orphans within the organization, the community clinic was closed. The children, the parents, and Victor were left hanging.

So, Victor and a group of parents and guardians sat down to come up with a plan to come together to provide opportunities for these little souls and help them live a better life. They recruited medical professionals, a nurse, a physiotherapist, 2 specialist teachers, a cook, a dishwasher and a diaper changer. Victor provided assessments for children with speech and hearing difficulties. Others had motor skills difficulties. Grade school children at a nearby school started volunteering to help feed the kids at lunch. Many of the school children experience for the first time a connection to a child with special needs. Children who had been ignored formed bonds and friendships with the children at the school. Slowly but surely the greater community started seeing these kids differently. Seeing that there was potential for them to experience a better quality of life. Helping parents/guardians learn about the needs of their child, the cause of their disability and how to help their child experience therapies and education that could change their lives forever. No government funding, just a bunch of people who believed this idea could really happen.
Through connections in Canada and the US, Able Kids got off the ground. During Victor’s time in Canada in 2005–2006 he graduated at the top of his class earning himself a certificate in Communicative Disorders which partners well with his Rehabilitation Tech diploma he received in Malawi. While in Canada Victor had a very large circle of friends. Word spread throughout the ‘speech and language/hearing community’ about Victor’s vision, about his plans to return to Malawi to continue to help children with special needs but with many new tools in his tool kit.
The main challenge – as with most charitable organizations, funding. Malawi has consistently ranked in the top 5 poorest countries in the world. Part of Victor’s vision has always been that treatment for all of the children would be free. Without any government funding how would this work? Support for Victor and his work had been ongoing since returning home in 2006, but this would be a different level of commitment. And so, it began, with the support of our longest partner West Coast Children’s Foundation in California, several churches in Ontario and a group of dedicated private donors, Able Kids Rehab Clinic and School jumped off. From this side of things, I have to be honest it did feel a bit like jumping off a cliff. For 3 years we relied on donations that would be sent to Victor to distribute as he saw fit. With plenty of local connections, Victor was able to stretch those donations to the limit. Rent, wages, equipment and probably the most important part of the program, the feeding program, providing children with breakfast, morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack. A child who receives proper nutrition is much better prepared to take part in therapies/learning activities and has been the reason for near-perfect attendance as well. Victor has always been a volunteer for Able Kids, never collecting a paycheck for countless hours, struggles, and responsibility, he wanted the donations to support the children, and the dedicated staff at Able Kids.
In 2017 Able Kids joined with DevXchange International and set off to help Able Kids reach charitable status, allowing donors to receive a taxable receipt for donations. One of the most exciting things about donating to Able Kids is that our supporter - Central Coast Children’s Foundation, from California provides a matching grant initiative each year of up to $10,000.00. Our goal needs to be met by October 30th, and so far, we are super hopeful.
As Able Kids is experiencing the trickle-down effect of the war in Ukraine, inflation has made a challenging situation much more difficult. The Malawi currency (Kwatcha) dropped almost 50% in value in 1 week, while electricity, water and inflation jumped between 40 and 44% the same week. To make life even more challenging Malawi was a victim of the longest-lasting cyclone ever recorded in the southern hemisphere last year. It hit not once but twice. Thousands were killed in mudslides or remain missing, thousands lost their homes. Eight children who attended Able Kids perished. It was devastating.
So here we are, 6 months and a bit into 2024. We are also 11 years into our little miracle that keeps going. To all those who supported us in 2023, we can never express our gratitude sufficiently. YOU ARE HELPING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD.
We are hoping for a year where crops succeed and weather events are uneventful, children can attend Able Kids feeling healthy and happy without fear of rain and wind. Where they can rely on receiving therapies, love, and nutrition. If you are interested in finding out more about this project, please reach out to: [email protected] we are always happy to share our story.
Gail

https://apnews.com/article/malawi-africa-drought-disaster-el-nino-ccdb755b84133d0e2796da3296410edf

Malawi follows Zambia in declaring drought disaster as El Niño brings hunger to southern Africa The southern African nation of Malawi has declared a state of disaster over drought in 23 of its 28 districts.

Thank you to the Georgian College CDA Class of 2024 for the warm welcome and meet and greet.

Victor is currently in Canada!!! Yesterday he was invited to St. Timothy’s Anglican Church in Toronto to provide an update on Able Kids. Thanks for all the love ❤️

Greetings friends, the current CDA Class at the Barrie Campus of Georgian College is having a Charity Gala to support Victor and Able Kids, please join this event or donate at https://www.able.devxchange.org/

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/04/1135362

Malawi: Rights experts offer ‘heartfelt support and solidarity’, in wake of Cyclone Freddy Independent human rights experts expressed their solidarity with the people of Malawi on Tuesday, following the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy that killed and injured hundreds, leading the Government to declare a state of emergency.

March 23, 2023. In an update from Victor just this morning, I have learned and wanted to share that Cyclone Freddie has devastated the City of Blantyre and the surrounding area. To date, Able Kids has lost 6 children and their families, they have been washed away in either flood waters or mudslides. 3 other Able Kids children have become orphans. There are an additional 12 children that are not accounted for. Several staff have lost their homes and the new Able Kids handyman/carpenter Godfrey along with his wife who was 8 months pregnant and one child were killed, their 9-year old child was spared because he had gone to the market when the house was washed away. Today Victor was meeting another Able Kids family at the morgue to provide support as they felt confident the person they were going to identify was a family member. This has been happening day in and day out for over a week now. Hundreds are still missing. The air tells their story.

Victor is dedicating today to visit some of the mothers and their children that attend Able Kids to be sure they are managing OK as they are living in camps. Aid is starting to pour in, but even the aid workers are overwhelmed at the magnitude of the destruction and need. Power is slowly being restored, cell-phone towers are starting to be repaired. But there are still communities that have not been reached. At one of the villages in Victor’s constituency, 83 families have lost their homes, they are all staying in a small church to provide them with shelter. Victor was the first person to get to them, they even came to him just outside the village and helped repair the impassible road so he could make it the remainder of the way. He was their first contact with the outside world since last Thursday. He delivered food and other supplies.

There is so much more to share, I will continue to provide updates when Victor is able so share them with me. Able Kids hopes to be back up and running within the next week or so, but between the loss of lives and lack of pretty much everything, things will continue to be difficult. If you have ever considered donating to Able Kids, please let it be now. The need has never been greater or more urgent.

After speaking with Victor this morning he was heading to his constituency to deliver supplies, people haven't eaten in several days, so whatever he can carry in the SUV someone rented for him will be a welcome sight. He said the devastation is overwhelming, and when Victor uses the word overwhelming it is meant in the most accurate way. Malawi needs help.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/16/cyclone-freddy-toll-passes-300-as-mozambique-counts-bodies

Over 300 dead in Malawi, Mozambique as Cyclone Freddy losses pile The death toll after Cyclone Freddy is rising, even as hundreds remain missing and rescue services are slow to come.

Hey friends of Able Kids, have you ever considered donating monthly? $20, $25, $50 or $100 (or whatever you like) a month helps Able Kids keep the budget on the straight and narrow during lean times. Crippling inflation has hit Malawi, and we can ALWAYS use your help.

https://www.able.devxchange.org/

Make It Monthly Terms and Conditions
*Make It Monthly 2023 $20 Offer is valid for new scheduled monthly donations of a minimum of $20 per month beginning March 1st, 2023 at 12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) to March 31st, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Devxchange will donate to a participating project an additional $20 for each new monthly donation of $20 or more that is made to the same project at least three times before June 2, 2023,
In order for a donation to be eligible (each an “Eligible Donation”),: (a) the first monthly donation pursuant to the newly scheduled monthly donation must be processed no later than April 1st, 2023 and must remain a scheduled monthly donation through to at least June 2, 2023 with three monthly donations of at least $20 each having been made pursuant to the scheduled monthly donation prior to June 2, 2023 and (b) the scheduled monthly donation must be made through Devxchange.
A donation will not be an Eligible Donation if the donation is made by any donor who had an active monthly donation that existed prior to February 28, 2023 and creates a new monthly donation for the same project in March 2023. A donation will not be an Eligible Donation if the donation is made by any donor who has previously scheduled an Eligible Donation to the same project as part of a separate series of monthly donations to that project.
Donors will receive a tax receipt for their monthly donations through Devxchange on an annual basis.

And don't forget for every $1 you donate Central Coast Children's Foundation in California will match that up to $10,000 :) We have until June 30th to reach that $10,000 goal.

Just off the phone with Victor, this bridge separates Victor and his family from the city of Blantyre. There is currently no power, many homes have washed away, Victors’s still stands. And somehow, Able Kids building is reportedly still standing, though it has been flooded. Able Kids staff have been displaced from where they live and we will know more tomorrow how the Able Kids children and their families have fared. Please say a prayer.

https://malawi24.com/2023/02/12/rains-devastate-blantyre/

Rains devastate Blantyre Heavy rains have wreaked havoc in Blantyre, destroying roads, crops and buildings. One of the areas heavily affected by the flooding is Machinjiri

Able Kids Update

Happy New Year from Able Kids Rehab. It’s hard to believe this will be the year that Able Kids turns 10! Where has the time gone? How many children have been supported over those 10 years? A lot. And although the children will always be our focus, we are pleased to have had an impact on the community at large. Because the majority of parents feel confident leaving their kids at Able Kids, this allows the parent/guardian to go and work during the hours their child is receiving therapies and care. Parents can earn money and know that their children are safe, being enriched and fed. During the lunch hour, children from a local school volunteer to feed the children who have difficulties feeding themselves. This is an opportunity for schoolchildren to experience inclusion and the joy of volunteering.

Many of the children at Able Kids require specialized furniture. This furniture is built by local carpenters. Specialized chairs and standing frames help the children to easily sit up and possibly stand for the first time, which helps them to see the world from a perspective that they typically wouldn’t experience.

Parents become mentors! Able Kids has a waiting list as long as your arm, and while it is shorter than it used to be, there have been times when there were up to 500 children on that list. So on Saturdays, parents of children currently attending Able Kids provide guidance to parents whose children are on the waitlist. The parents have become mentors, teachers and cheerleaders for parents with a similar story and struggles.

Able Kids purchases much of their produce from the local markets, supporting local farmers and vendors, and it doesn’t stop there. Purchasing dry goods at local shops helps them out. This is what your donations do!!

Over the past 10 years, we have been presented with many challenges, but the successes have made it all worthwhile. Even with all of our success, near the end of 2022 Able Kids felt it had reached the end of the road - financially the challenges appeared endless. Russia’s war in Ukraine caused grain and fertilizer shortages, which is leading to less food production and more food shortages. Cyclones, drought and most recently an outbreak of Cholera have all affected Malawi. The donations still coming in were not keeping up with the inflation Malawi was experiencing. We were going to close. But DevXchange is convinced that Able Kids is worth saving, and while we felt the same way, sometimes challenges overshadow everything else, and this was one of those times. We had to ask ourselves, in a world so full of need what makes us stand out? Well, we are the definition of grass-roots, and our budget is incredibly small when you consider the impact. Able Kids donors are supporting something really, really special - children who otherwise would never have this opportunity. They would not have a chance, period.

Over the past few years, we have attracted more corporate donors who see the value in Able Kids. They include the Peterborough K.M. Hunter Foundation and the Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario. Our connections with St. Timothy’s Church in Toronto are strengthened by the Outreach Committee’s continued support and those friends who met Victor when he was a parishioner there. This year, our longest, most faithful champions, Harvey Pressman & Sarah Blackstone, from Central Coast Children’s Foundation (CCCF) in California, have bumped up their annual matching grant. CCCF is providing a whopping $10,000 matching grant in support of Able Kids. All we have to do is match that amount by June 30th. While we know the need and challenges will continue, perhaps this is the boost Able Kids needs. Please consider donating to this worthwhile charity, lets's make Able Kids 10th Anniversary the best year yet.

With gratitude, Victor & Gail

To donate please visit: www.DevXchange.org

https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/africa/2023/01/12/malawi-cholera-outbreak-kills-750-as-world-cases-rise-by-50/?fbclid=IwAR0R4NeA630kjppISk08FWmRan5DvJW8tBoS_zvjVSEUCO64f4IY8K3fRUs

When will Malawi catch a break?

Malawi cholera outbreak kills 750 as world cases rise by 50% WHO says epidemics 'more widespread and deadly than normal'

Able Kids Story
Last week, I visited Able Kids Rehab in Malawi. What started with seeing the Able Kids sign alongside the road while cycling, ended in an amazing morning with Victor, his colleagues and very special children. When entering the gate, I already felt the welcoming and
positive atmosphere. I saw workers who have a big heart for the children and are able to create a safe and stimulating environment for them to develop. I saw kids playing, singing and laughing. And
when they feel relaxed and get help from some experts, they start to flourish. I saw a young girl who couldn’t grasp with her hands when she first started, but now she is able. She can play with toys, and maybe in the future she can learn how to eat. I saw a boy, who always threw his plate on the floor and ran away when eating. Now he was eating and enjoying this important moment of the day.
During the semester, the team is running a preschool from Monday to Friday, while also providing physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. When the child reaches the age of going to
primary school, Able Kids supports the children, the parents and the primary school teachers in how to include the kid in primary school. Moreover, they empower mothers to lead support groups in their own communities. These groups help parents to share their stories and challenges and help them to be advocates for a disability-inclusive environment in their own community.
I happened to visit Able Kids not during the semester, but during the holidays. But at Able Kids there is no such thing as holidays because during the holidays the team assesses and helps children who are not able to attend the preschool program due to their limited capacity or older age. The team stops when the work is finished and the work is never finished. But how great to see this
commitment is changing the lives of many children and is impacting entire communities. My wish for
Able Kids is that they will be able to expand their services even more and will change even more lives. Thanks for your support, because I saw your contribution is life-changing.
Kind regards,
Martine, Medical Doctor from the Netherlands

Thanks you ETFO for seeing the value in the work that Able Kids does, we couldn't do it without donors like you

Bracing for Tough Times
This year has been a challenge, across the globe. While most of the world has been focusing on COVID-19, and an unspeakable situation happening in Ukraine, there is a small, but mighty organization in a tiny country in Africa feeling the effects of both and bracing for a dire situation of its own. Able Kids Rehab has weathered the storm up until this point, operating with strict COVID-19 regulations in place to keep vulnerable children safe and healthy. But what is coming down the pipes in the shadow of the war is not as easy to manage. With food prices skyrocketing, food insecurity has become a major concern. To make matters more challenging, February and March brought cyclones to Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi wiping out entire crops in Malawi, severe flooding and loss of life was left in the wake of the storms.

As the cornerstone of the programing at Able Kids, the nutrition program is just one of the reasons for near-perfect attendance. Monday – Friday children are given a nutritious breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack.

Basic provisions like cooking oil have jumped 200% in 2 weeks. Eggs, soya, rice flour and cornflour prices are also starting to climb, making them inaccessible to most Malawians. Fertilizer prices have jumped over 130%, making local food production difficult as well. The Able Kids solution is to purchase dry goods now before they increase further and we can no longer afford them. Access to a nutritious meal, particularly for a child, is a basic human right. Able Kids currently has close to 100 mouths to feed 5 days a week, mostly children with disabilities.
Please join us in supporting some of the world’s most needy. Your donation to Able Kids goes 100% to purchasing food for the children we work with: https://www.able.devxchange.org/.

Cyclone season in Malawi, another one predicted for tomorrow :(
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdQ5REOEcKg

Tropical storm Ana: Homes destroyed, roads wiped out in Mozambique and Malawi Tropical storm Ana tore through east Africa this week, flooding homes and wiping out roads in Mozamqique and Malawi.Cecilia Banda from the Malawi Red Cross S...

Some interesting info out of Malawi.

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/01/28/1072591923/africa-may-have-reached-the-pandemics-holy-grail?utm_campaign=npr&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=nprnews&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR0js0fO3qOvURo3jVIo04GbcGCFqUUr4aDJriCLskF_8xX6pz9mTltOCbk

Africa may have reached the pandemic's holy grail New findings from Malawi suggest the country has entered something akin to the endemic stage of the pandemic — along with many other African nations.

Well Hello 2022!
Hello and Happy New Year to our Able Kids family of supporters. So, 2022, what do you have in store for us? As for most folks, 2021 was long, trying and a bit nerve-wracking at times. But Able Kids got through it, with strict guidelines in place, your donations helped keep tiny vulnerable bodies nourished. Donations that afforded us our wonderful staff to provide therapies to keep those bodies moving and helped them to become stronger. Therapies that helped with hearing and language difficulties. Donations that paid the rent, hydro and water bills. Year after year, you keep our wee miracle moving forward. In April, we will celebrate Able Kids 9th anniversary! 9 years of changing and improving the lives of children who otherwise would not have any such opportunities. We are so grateful to you our faithful donors. May you have a happy, healthy and blessed year.
I would like to mention a couple of our new donors for 2020-2021, these organizations see the amazing value of Able Kids Rehab:

Peterborough KM Hunter Foundation
Greygates Foundation
The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario

We are also fortunate enough to have continued support from Central Coast Children’s Foundation, and many individuals who have been with us from the start.

Saying thank you just doesn’t say enough.