Appropriate Paper-based Technology
APT KENYA is a project addressing the needs of children living with physical disabilities in Kenya by making assistive devices such as chairs, standing frames and wheelchair inserts from low-cost, sustainable materials.
The Potter's House CBO is a Christian, community based organisation seeking to demonstrate God's love by serving practically within the communities of Njoro, Kenya. By supporting families and community projects by equipping them with knowledge and resources to respond to local needs they are working for sustainable, long term transformation.
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In 2022, The Potter’s House CBO started APT Kenya, a project that makes postural support equipment for children with disabilities using cardboard and paper, and is providing employment that helps families out of poverty.
https://www.thepottershousecbo.com/apt
Children with disabilities in Kenya rarely have access to the equipment they need to sit up or stand and very few parents have ever had the diagnosis explained so do not know how to best care for their child.
Children who can’t sit up spend their days lying on the bed, settee or floor with little or no stimulation. Being in an upright functional position is essential for developing interaction and communication skills as well as eating, for safe swallowing. Without good postural management, children can have an isolated and often painful existence.
The APT Kenya project makes chairs, standing frames and wheelchair inserts using cardboard, paper and a flour water paste as the glue. All the materials are sourced locally. A qualified therapist assesses, measures and prescribes the right device and adaptations, and the device is fabricated by trained APTers.
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With these devices, children are able to sit or stand up and engage in family life. Other children, neighbours and family are more willing to talk and play with the child and as a result of the social interaction and stimulation, children are trying to communicate, which they never did before. For some children, having a chair has made going to school possible. Since the project began in 2022 APT have provided over 400 devices to children, with some travelling nearly 200 miles for a device. Currently we have two full-time APTers who draw, cut and tie devices using the measurements taken during the child’s assessment.
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Not only is APT KENYA changing children's lives, it is providing an income for families. Parents from the families that The Potter's House CBO work with are employed to paper and paint the devices and this is helping them to feed their family and pay school fees for their children.
Having such a project in the heart of the community and involving community members is helping to break down the barriers and stigma that families with children with disabilities face and it is raising awareness of disability.
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