A Leap of Faith for a Learning Center

Until this summer, Marvin Omondi (5), who has had cerebral palsy since he was born has not been able to be mobile. Since his birth, his grandmother has had to carry him. Sometimes he would crawl on his stomach and this has been difficult for both his grandmother and him. Marvin lives with his mother and father, and his father also has a physical disability, which has made it difficult for him to be gainfully employed, while his mother is the one who looks for odd jobs, to bring income into the family. This leaves the sole responsibility of looking after him, to his grandmother. Because of the cerebral palsy, he does not have the ability to move his limbs. During this summer, Ageno Community donated a wheelchair to Marvin, and for the first time, his grandmother will not have to carry him. The wheelchair has a little feeding try attached, which makes feeding him easier for his grandmother.

Although the use of the wheelchair will be helpful, Marvin still requires ongoing therapy, to let his motor skills to continue to work. “It will be helpful if Marvin were to be at an institution where he can get therapy on an ongoing basis, and education”, said the director of Ageno Community, Lydia Owallah. “His muscles are atrophied and the physiotherapy would enable the muscles to continue functioning to a certain extend”, she added. For Marvin to go to school and get therapy, it would cost $350 per year, an amount which his mother cannot raise from her odd jobs.

The wheelchair, which cost $210 + $55 transport, was purchased through donations from Kelly Alvey, Coventry Reserve, and other Ageno donors. Currently, Ageno is committed to continuing ministering to families affected by disabilities in the community, and supports the parents by training and encouraging them to work with their children in their homes.

After realizing the need that exists for ongoing therapy and education, for children such as Marvin, Ageno Community has initiated plans to build a center. The center will consist of a residence place for Ageno children and a training center, two classrooms for them to learn in. The most desperate children with no one else to look after them would live there, learn there and receive their therapy there. The center will also focus on helping the orphans with disabilities in the area, who currently have no continuous care provided for them. “After visiting the children and saw the need, we decided as an organization to give the children more care, and because of the limited resources available in the area, giving 100% care”, said Lydia.

It is envisioned that the Ageno Special Learning Center will not only serve as an educational and therapy center, it will also serve as a place for training community leaders and parents of children with special needs, to also reduce the stigma associated with disability. The center will house:
– A dedicated area for therapy.

– A gallery/showroom for works created by the participants

– A training center for parents, staff and volunteers

– Office space for staff to conduct interviews and evaluations

As of now, Ageno has secured a piece of land, measuring a quarter of an acre, for the construction of the center. The organization is currently appealing for financial donations for the construction of the center. In addition, the organization is also looking for volunteers skilled and knowledgeable in the area of construction, to assist in the technical areas of construction, such as drawing plans, buying materials, and the actual building of the center. For any question on how to volunteer, please contact Lydia at 469-826-2589/469-443-6080, or send an email Lasuluda@ageno.org
Written by Varaidzo Nyamandi

Lydia Asuluda Owallah
Ageno Community
Tel. 469-443-6080
www.ageno.org