It is the rainy season, and a heavy storm had just passed through Lilongwe, drenching the area around the Action for Progress center west of the city. This time, however, it was different for one Malawi young woman. Today she would not be crawling in the mud.
Chifuniro Kaipa, a determined 22-year-old from Mbayani, Blantyre but currently residing at Dzenza in Lilongwe, sat on a small chair at the Action for progress premises in Lilongwe, staring at the mobility unit in front of her. Tears of joy welled up in her eyes as she ran her hands over the sturdy frame. This was the moment that would change her life forever.
Born with a physical challenge that left her legs unable to move, Chifuniro had faced countless obstacles. Simple tasks, like visiting friends or attending church, were daunting challenges that often left her feeling isolated and frustrated. However, in all these hurdles, Chifuniro persevered as she did not give up on school. She would crawl or sometimes be pushed on a wheelchair, that she received earlier, until she completed secondary school at Little Charm Academy in Blantyre. Though the results had not been what she hoped for, she refused to give up. She had big dreams that now seemed within reach, thanks to the mobility unit she had just received from Action for Progress.
With her newfound mobility, Chifuniro’s mind buzzed with possibilities. She had always wanted to start an agro – dealer business, providing essential supplies to local farmers. “I know I did not do well during my Malawi school certificate of education (MSCE), I want to start up a business. And with this mobility unit, it will be possible as it will ease my movements wherever I want to go.”