Reuters AlertNet Lite - Uzbekistan: ‘Beanbags’ bring mobility and joy to children with disabilities

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Uzbekistan: ‘Beanbags’ bring mobility and joy to children with disabilities

04 Sep 2007 10:54:08 GMT
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)

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The smile on that child’s face really brought home how something so inexpensive and simple can make such a difference to a child’s life. Photocredit: Simon Nellist
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org

The daily quality of life for institutionalised children living with disabilities was given a boost last month after 'bean bags' were delivered to their orphanage in the Uzbek capital Tashkent, through the World Vision Uzbekistan's Children in Crisis Project.

Through the purchase of 'bean bags', spherical two by two feet polystyrene filled leather 'bags', the children who have weak back muscles and spinal problems are now able to be more independently mobile, comfortable and to enjoy simple childhood games which they were previously unable to fully participate in.

'The bean bags really lit up the children's day', remarked Simon Nellist, Regional Finance Director for the Middle East and Eastern European Region, who accompanied staff to the Mercy House Orphanage.

"Just to see a child whose dream it is to be a goal keeper in a football team able to move himself around on the beanbags and save goals was just amazing. The smile on that child's face really brought home how something so inexpensive and simple can make such a difference to a child's life', Nellist furthered.

The bean bags were purchased through funds from private donors through World Vision Japan specifically for the Children in Crisis Project which assists children with special needs and disabilities in Mercy House Orphanage in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Last updated:Tue Sep 4 11:51:30 2007