Ama Wheelies

Recognized but not funded

AmaWheelies — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:31:17 +0000

The Department of Social Development (DSD) spearheaded by the Mpumalanga DSD Departmental head, Mpumalanga Provincial Representative, Project Supervisor and town Thabachweu /Lydenburg Social representatives visited Ama Wheelies at the farm Rietfontein situated within the rural district of Badfontein.

The visit of senior DSD management was to inform Ama Wheelies that they have a mandate; any project not previously funded is not to receive subsidy unless the project is based in a township. The DSD therefore report, although the farm visit is in recognition of Ama Wheelies and its work as a registered Non-Profit Organization (NPO), commending Ama Wheelies and its projects, they encouraged Ama Wheelies to continue finding private donors, to fund Ama Wheelies operations for the DSD are unable to grant funds unless the NPO is “Township based”.

Although Ama Wheelies emphasized to the DSD that the farm is situated within Badfontein district, it did not change the decision and in addition they commented that they have budget constraints and that within the town of Lydenburg they have only one Disabled centre approved for funding and it is Wenaker -an institution for mentally handicapped. The DSD further will not approve ‘Self-Help Centres’ be it for Blind, Deaf or quadriplegic for town Lydenburg as all disable needs are cared for at the disabled centre Wenaker, the Lydenburg institution for Mentally Handicapped.

The shocking news was not received well by members of Ama Wheelies and the DSD suggested a follow up meeting enabling one member of Ama Wheelies (Felix) the Lydenburg Social representatives (Sphiwe), Department Health representative (Annelize) and Lydenburg Municipal co-ordinator for persons with disability (Albina) to report on feasibility of relocating projects into the township and arranging accommodation at Wenaker.

The DSD visit was prompted in responds to the submission of Ama Wheelies annual Business plans as required from a registered NPO. NPO’S are required to disclose activity, provide financial statements and apply for annual ‘grant.’ The business plan is motivation as to how funds applied for will be used.

As a NPO Ama Wheelies prepared a comprehensive Grant application funding the 6 spears of operations as outlined in our Business plan. Our service is unique in Mpumalanga. The 24hr care and accommodation Ama Wheelies offer; the Training and rehabilitation both to Quadriplegics and family members; the Outreach program is designed to assist and Empower these disabled persons living with family or on their own and the Outreach Supporting them. The Job Creation Program create Special Protected work opportunities for these vulnerable disabled persons; and the Sport program facilitating and Enabling Disabled Sport the Tool we use to Uplift, Motivate and give New-Hope to disabled persons.

Ama Wheelies provide a range of services to Victims of Crime. These Persons Permanently Injured at young age in Car HI-Jackings, Robberies and Traumatic Car Accidents further suffer in that their families are not equipped or trained to take care of these persons suffering spinal injury, and no longer able to take care of themselves! Helpless they are abused by their families for their pensions and we ask help funding our home, help with rehabilitation enabling those still with families to overcome problems.

Ama Wheelies first applied to Thabachweu /Lydenburg Municipality December 2007 for help and guidance. Ama Wheelies received our NPO number in 2010 and annually been submitting Business plan on Business plan unsuccessfully. In vain Ama Wheelies application for funding has also been made to the Youth Development Fund, Job Creation Fund, Department of works, SEDA and various SETA’s and annually to Department Land Reconciliation and Reform!

Our applications for government grants seem to fall on deaf ears.

Ironically the DSD overlook letters from the Department of Health which clearly state: “Suitable accommodation and care for disabled persons, especially quadriplegics, is extremely hard to come by. Besides Ama Wheelies, Mpumalanga does not have any other accommodation for quadriplegics.” with this in mind our funding requests are shot down and our members are told to apply for accommodation at a mental health institution?

Ama Wheelies although recognized as the only suitable accommodation and training center for quadriplegics in Mpumalanga is not receiving government funding. As a direct result we are forced to continue finding private donors to keep our organization floating.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the private and corporate donors who continue to support Ama Wheelies.

You guys rock! Thank you.

A little training goes along way

AmaWheelies — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:56:43 +0000

A wize person once said, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” At Ama Wheelies we strive to follow this advice by providing free training and education to our members.

Moses Mlombo is a quadriplegic unable to use hands or feet, he is a member of Ama Wheelies. Moses was further handicapped for some time with a bed-sore and was bedridden. During this time, Moses received a Nokia handset and communication training provided by Ama Wheelies.

Against all odds Moses found an opportunity via the green trust, recycling old printer cartridges.

Moses has already received a small income from recycling cartridges and his business is slowly growing, proving yet again that with education and motivation people can be taught to help themselves.

Can you help Moses to grow his business?

By supporting Moses, through empty printer cartridge collections, you and your business will make a meaningful contribution to the environment and at the same time empower Moses, helping him grow his business and realize financial independence.

Please consider collecting your empty printer cartridges to help Moses.

To help Moses, please follow these easy steps:

1. Contact Moses (Cell: 079 052 3500; email: speedy@amawheelies.co.za)
2. Moses will have a cartridge collection box delivered to your place of business
3. Collect all your empty printer, copier and fax cartridge until the box is full, you can even bring your empty cartridges from home
4. When the box is full, contact Moses (or he will call you), and arrange for collection.

Ama Wheelies is changing lives through education. Our outreach program is helping many to live meaningful lives.

We rely on your support though to continue growing from strength to strength. Your donations are appreciated. Thank you

The land of milk and honey with a SCORPION!

AmaWheelies — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:52:06 +0000

Into the labour market they come, young and strong! Good labour is hard to find, at some stage you explore the option of training school leavers!

Clever and eager, but more willing they come. If you work like me you surround yourself with strong and capable staff, young people we train and develop internally. Yes at Ama Wheelies we cannot afford high salaries as required by qualified staff. At Ama Wheelies we provide constant training; developing our staff enabling us to achieve great results all thanks to our good staff. Yes at Ama Wheelies we developed a nucleus of happy, good and honest hard working men in our little happy world; and this we do as a registered NPO with limited means.

But these young men want to go to town to buy and spend their hard earned wages. They are not married and don’t go to their parents homes when they receive time-off. They are watched and on the way to town a beautiful girl invites them for a bit of entertainment. They don’t mind giving her a bit of money as reward for the pleasure she provide; however she overlooked telling them she’s entertaining them seeking reward to purchase her anti-revitral medicine!

Not a week later these young men report a bladder infection unable to urinate. To the doctors and hospital they go; soon however you notice a change in the young man; from happy they become glum; (I say they for recently we had 4 young men walk the same route from 2 population groups and from 4 ethnic races.) Soon concern riddles them, fidgety they become; unable to concentrate and becoming forgetful. But the telling sign is they start loosing weight

Yes today number 4 left us also returning sick to his family.

What do you do? Ama Wheelies develop youngsters into men. Do we re-employ another youngster and watch him fall by the wayside swept away by the luxuries money brings?

Can you give advice? Must we train and install morals? If your company found a solution please share the information; Ama Wheelies is young and dynamic; we invite help and your advice we treasure.

Read our webpage www.amawheelies.co.za for more info and if you able to help our home

URGENT Help Needed!

AmaWheelies — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 19:10:01 +0000

A lawyer brought Segokodi – Jerry Sekgothe ID 770707 6170 086 to AmaWheelies for urgent help, care and rehabilitation.

Jerry broke his back in an accident and without proper rehabilitation, without even a pressure relief cushion sent home to his 80 year old grandmother.

His grandmother unable to take care of him simply left him on a bed in a small tin shack.
You don’t want to see the photos it makes you sick!
WARNING PICTURES ARE GRAPHIC! NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED.
Pictures can be seen here and here.

We took Jerry to Lydenburg hospital, got some necessary medicines for Jerry.
Jerry is now in our Ama Wheelies rehabilitation room and we doing best possible to help him.

We URGENTLY need financial help to look after Jerry, our finances are stretched and care giving expensive.

If your heart finds it good our Ama Wheelies Nedbank Account
Acc: 1930052944 Branch Code: 193042.

Alternatively please consider making an online donation using Visa or Mastercard.

The loss and the price paid for Justice

AmaWheelies — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:17:26 +0000

After a lengthy 22 month fight for justice, Ama Wheelies is happy to announce that Mr Ryan Wheeler has been sentenced for an effective 20 years at a Nelspruit court.

Mr Wheeler (pictured below) for all apparent purposes was the most pleasant and helpful person, using the trust to gain access to our bank account on the basis of him helping us, only to rob Ama Wheelies of R37 400.00.

7 September was the court date and the Department of Justice subpoenaed Barry Botes founder of Ama Wheelies, providing transport to the court and back as witness. Mr Wheeler admitted guilt and the case was postponed as there were several charges against him. On 3 October the secretary of the court phoned informing final outcome and eventual sentence. Mr Wheeler will be locked up for an effective 20 years without parole.

Mr Wheeler is now locked away and cannot rob and steal from other disabled or old persons.

Sadly we could not report the news of this robbery earlier as we feared for the lives of our members while Mr Wheeler was still a free man. Now that he is locked away for a long time, we are happy to report this news and the outcome of the 22 month battle for justice.

As quadriplegics, disabled and without the use of hands to draw money at an ATM. Stuck in a wheelchair it is not easy getting into banks for turnstiles and security doors make it difficult to enter banks, thus we have to appoint and entrust a person to do banking on our behalf. Presently we have trust worthy staff taking good care of us here at Ama Wheelies however Mr Wheeler initially was entrusted and the money stolen our livelihood.

Ama Wheelies have not been deterred and two years we are still hard working. For an able bodied person loosing such a large sum of money life would be difficult; for a disabled person unable to work, unable to recuperate the lost money doubles the effect of the loss. Ama Wheelies are without transport and in trouble battling to pay salaries and make ends meet.

Ama Wheelies need your help. Please help find a sponsor to adopt 2 workers and pay their wages on behalf of Ama Wheelies. We urgently need a sponsor to help pay wages! As persons in wheelchairs we require 24 hour medical care. You will be paying wages of our caregivers Manelisi Mlombo and Collen Thwala and total cost of R3630.00 per month. We are battling without governmental help and need this help for 6 months

Presently we await funding from Lotto and Department of Social development and are in crises praying for help, and need help paying wages for next six months. Any help that the community can provide will be vastly appreciated.

Until next time.

Team Ama Wheelies

Open Letters to the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Jacob G. Zuma

AmaWheelies — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:26:30 +0000

After multiple failed attempts were made to make contact the President of South Africa via his official Twitter account, The following letters were sent to his office. For the purpose of openness we are making these letters available on our blog. We hope and pray that the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Jacob G. Zuma responds to our please for help.

We will follow up with any news on this blog as soon as we get it.

Letter 1.

Dear President Zuma,

I write to you requesting for your help and intervention.

My name is Moses Mlombo I am 25 years old, I come from a rural village called Pienaar kaMsogwaba it is situated from about 18 kilo meters away from Nelspruit. On the 17th of June 2006 I was a victim of a robbery were I was shot on my neck and I was left paralysed from my neck down which makes me a quadraplegic now. I was still doing my matric when that tragic gun shot accident happened to me and I could,nt finish my matric because of the long stay in hospital and the unavailabilty of training and rehabilitation facilities here in Mpumalanga province.

Ama Wheelies is the first ever self help centre in Mpumalanga designed to provide 24 hour physical assistance on a permanent basis to people with spinal cord injuries,mainly quadraplegics and paraplegics. By providing these services, Ama Wheelies create a platform to people like me and Barry and all the Ama Wheelies members to continue living our lives as normal and independently as possible without relying too much on family and friends. Apart from the 24 hour physical assistance provided,the residents at Ama Wheelies are normal everyday people. We only do things a little different.

Quadraplegics are paralysed from the neck down.This condition affects all limbs and sensation accross the body. Depending on the various levels, higher or lower, and places of the injury or fracture of the spine,we got no use or partial use of our limbs.

Paraplegics mainly experience loss of function and sensation below the waist as a result of a very low fracture of the spinal cord. Apart from this,the upper body,arms and hands continue to function normally.

These disabilities along with many other are caused through

Car accidents
Pedestrian accidents
Motorcycle accidents
Diving accidents(neck injury when diving in shallow water)
Sports accidents(rugby injury,motor sports etc)
Gun shot accidents or malicious muggings or attacks

These are some of the causes of physical disability,but it also occurs through illnesses,diseases or paralysing conditions.

People with spinal cord injuries need 24 hour physical assistance with ,bathing and dressing,preparing meals and sometimes feeding,emptying urine bags and bowel management,daily tasks around the office or house and getting ready for bed.

Quadraplegics need

Battery operated wheelchairs
Specially adapted vehicles
Lifting equipment for in and out of bed
Computers to work on
Assistive devices such as typing sticks and splints

Paraplegics need

Manual wheelchair dependent on upper body strength
Hand controls fitted to vehicle
Grab rails in bathrooms etc,to support them with transfers

Ama Wheelies was founded in 2007 and it was established on 27 November 2010 here at Lydenburg in Mpumalanga province.Ama Wheelies has accomplished a communication training to 9 quadraplegics and paraplegics in the province throught our ICT training programme to persons with disabilities with the assistance of Nokia sponsoring touch screen handset.But unfortunately all this critical important development of people with disabilities can,t go on without financial assistance hence we desperately need the intervention of government and private sector. here in Mpumalanga.We have applied for funding from the department of social development as a registered NPO and we have been approved by the social workers to be funded but the provincial office has cut funding which further paralyses Ama Wheelies members a chance to be developed and empowered.We have applied for fundind from Xstrata and Samancor mines which are very close to our location but we also having adversities with them.They all recognize the critical importance of Ama Wheelies to many people with disabilities here in Mpumalanga but theres no one who has assisted the organisation to move forward with its critical important developmental objectives to quadriplegics and paraplegics here in the province.

Ama Wheelies also has ambitions of farming and develop farming skills to persons with disabilities,we have been in meetings with the department of rural development and land reform to assist Ama Wheelies with leasing a farm where we can pilot our farming project that aims to empower us persons with disabilities who desire to be farmers in farming skills unfortunately we only experiencing adversities with that department aswel since 2007.Mr President we see no development and empower of persons with disabilities here in Mpumalanga and have hoped that Ama Wheelies will be acknowledged to make it possible since it is fully pioneered by us persons with disabilities but it seems like we being marginalised because of our disabilities.The preferential proccurement for persons with disabilities is neglected by this department to make land provission to us.

Honorable President Zuma I am pleading to you, please save Ama Wheelies from being murdered a chance of developing the lives of quadriplegics and paraplegics and many other persons with disabilities who can benefit from developmental objectives of Ama Wheelie.All we need is hand up to assist us not a hand out.We want to be able to participate in our mainstream economy of our province and beyond as persons with disabilities we say”NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US”.

I hope that this letter will help you to help us get financial assistance for Ama Wheelies to be able to move forward Mr President.

Yours Sincerely

Moses Mlombo

Ama Wheelies Chairperson
Mobile: 0790523500

Letter 2.

Dear President Zuma

I am distressed and write requesting help. I am a quadriplegic and cannot readily go out working for I am unable to use either my hands or legs, but still the help I request is not for me but for Ama Wheelies, the only quadriplegic centre in Mpumalanga. I am distressed for the work I am able to do and have done and that is to help Ama Wheelies (the specialist centre accommodating me) and completed our business plan, The department of Social Services approved the Business plan; Social Development inspected our premises and after all that work we are told the budget has been cut! Distressed we were told by the budget for the Department Social Development has been cut with 20milion.

This distressing news have been conveyed to us by firstly Sakhile Mathebulu our NPO project co-ordinator and confirmed by the provincial Manager of Social Development Mpumalanga Province. Mrs Elisah Mshhlanga her email: elisahm AT social DOT mpu DOT gov DOT za and they can verify our predicament.

Ama Wheelies urgently need help your intervention for we do not have the money to pay JULY salaries or electricity.

Ama Wheelies submitted application to the Lotto February 2011, received a reference number (50445) but still waiting for help. Project co-ordinator is Mrs Sonja van Zyl Sonja AT nlb DOT org DOT za tell: 012 432 1452. We are waiting for one and half years praying for help from Lotto.

Please help! Ama Wheelies is both a home and rehabilitation centre for individuals with spinal injuries. Traumatic accidents cause severe neck injury to the spinal cord, causing paralysis dramatically changing lives. The home is for persons such as Moses, shot as a youngster still in school for his cell phone; Barry hijacked for his car on the way to work and Sarah who was paralyzed in a freak accident at age of 12! Disaster means our people are left with nothing, sickly and not able to do normal work. And yet the biggest asset available to Ama Wheelies is our people. We may be in wheelchairs, however we want to live; we want to work; we want our families with us and as young people doing things; working for ourselves, to improve our situation. Determined and to achieve financial independence, these quadriplegics who are unable to use hand or feet, rented a house on a farm, started the Mpumalanga quadriplegic centre on 27 November 2010 the date doors were opened here outside Lydenburg.

Our only hope is to turn to you dear President Zuma we need your help, we need funding please help!

Ama Wheelies is a section 21 non-profit organization (2008/021003/08) with our NPO number 083-504.

Kind Regards

Barry Botes
Mobile: 079 875 5040

Jacaranda FM Winners: Day 3-14

AmaWheelies — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:31:20 +0000

Ama Wheelies in collaboration with Spar are happy to announce the winners of our Jacaranda FM Fax2Email contest for Days 3-14.

Day 3 Winners for 11/04/2012 are:

David Stephanus Barnard, Sandton
Sbusiso Alex Mnisi, Belfast

Day 4 Winners for 12/04/2012 are:

Octavia Fisiwe Neliswe Maphosa, Secunda
Dalwyn DieselL-Reynolds, Bellville

Day 5 Winners for 13/04/2012 are:

Matilda Carolina de Beer, Ohrigstad
Jeanette Kruger-Hibbins, Lydenburg

Day 6 Winners for 14/04/2012 are:

Jan Hendrik Olivier, Primrose
Juanita Venter, Sandton

Day 7 Winners for 15/04/2012 are:

Martina Adriana Magdalena Vogel, Lydenburg
Antoinette de Jager, Lydenburg

Day 8 Winners for 16/04/2012 are:

Celeste le Roux, Bronkhorstspruit
Antoinette Parker, Wilgeheuwel

Day 9 Winners for 17/04/2012 are:

Barend Jacobus Maasberg, Little Falls
Lolo Madonsela of Nelspruit

Day 10 Winners for 18/04/2012 are:

Esme Bezuidenhout Lydenburg
Linda Capelluto, Sandton

Day 11 Winners for 19/04/2012 are:

Elzaan Blom, Durbanville
Andries Stephanus Botes, Port Elizabeth – A special word of thanks to Andries for donating his voucher to Ama Wheelies.

Day 12 Winners for 20/04/2012 are:

Karlien Petrocelia Cornelessen, , Wendywood
Johan Gerber, Douglas

Day 13 Winners for 21/04/2012 are:

Willaim Bongani Mahlangu, Mashishing
Sylvia Mthimunye, Witbank

Day 14 Winners for 21/04/2012 are:

Wilhelmina Margaretha Johnson, Kliprivier
Caroline Monang, Garankuwa

Each winner will receive a R400.00 Spar shopping Voucher. Congrats to all winners and thank you for your support guys!

Vouchers have been posted and should be received shortly.

A special word of thanks to Spar South Africa for sponsoring the vouchers and especially to both Steven and Andre for their hard work and effort providing support and sponsorship of this campaign. You guys rock!

Until next time.

Team AmaWheelies

Jacaranda FM winners: Day 2

AmaWheelies — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:10:40 +0000

Ama Wheelies in collaboration with Spar are happy to announce the winners of our Jacaranda FM Fax2Email contest for Day 2.

Winners for 10/04/2012 are:

Thembi Skhosana of Cartoon Candy
Magda Duvenhage of West Evans

Winners receive a R400.00 Spar shopping Vouchers. Congrats and thank you for your support guys!

Reminder: Tune into JacaradaFM daily, we are giving away 2 x R400.00 Spar vouchers every day until 22 April.

All you need to do to stand in line to win is register for a freefax2email number from Ama Wheelies. It’s fast, easy and free.

The best part is that for every fax you receive, Telkom donates 20c towards the AmaWheelies Quad home. So what are you waiting for, get your free fax2email number today. We earn money when you receive faxes and you can win Spar shopping vouchers for registering.

More winners announced tomorrow.

Team AmaWheelies

Jacaranda FM winners: Day 1

AmaWheelies — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:54:38 +0000

Ama Wheelies in collaboration with Spar are happy to announce the winners of our Jacaranda FM Fax2Email contest for Day 1.

Winners for 09/04/2012 are:

Delene Sheasby of Skills Resource Group
Meaky Xolani Skosana of Cleaning Africa Thuŝanang.

Winners receive a R400.00 Spar shopping Vouchers.

Thank you to Delene Sheasby who donated her voucher back to the Ama Wheelies Quad home. You are a star Delene

Reminder: Tune into JacaradaFM daily, we are giving away 2 x R400.00 Spar vouchers every day until 22 April.

All you need to do to stand in line to win is register for a freefax2email number from Ama Wheelies. It’s fast, easy and free.

More winners announced tomorrow.

Team AmaWheelies

Upcoming Ama Wheelies Events

AmaWheelies — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:14:14 +0000

Team Ama Wheelies is hard at work preparing for our exciting upcoming events. Below please see details pf the planned events. Friends of Ama Wheelies interested in attending or helping out at any of the events listed below are welcome to make contact. We need all the help and support we can get and thank everyone in advance for their support. We look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events.

Long Tom Marathon
31 March 2012 at 08:00 AM

We will be manning stand number 10 at Long Tom Marathon on 31 March 2012 and already entered; please help recover expenses. Do remember the great event last year as attached photos! This year we will have disabled athlete Amos representing Ama Wheelies in his racing wheelchair and Anita Viljoen specialist walker walking the race representing us!

Jacaranda 94.2FM Radio Advertising
26 March 2012 at 08:00 AM

26 March – 6 April 2012 we will be on the air, 8 slots per day, for two (2) weeks. Free Jacaranda radio advertising to promote our Fax2Email project. Tune in to Jacaranda FM on 94.2 FM and show your support towards our project. A huge thank you in advance to Jacaranda FM for their support, you guys rock!

Communication Training
24 April 2012 at 08:00 AM

We are preparing hard for our first certified communication training course scheduled 24 – 27 April 2012 with 20 Ama Wheelies members receiving training and 3G Smart phones donated by Nokia. Thank you to Nokia Connects for the support. More news to follow shortly.

Ricky Farber Live in Concert
12 May 2012 at 09:00 AM

On 12 May 2012 Ricky Farber will sing in concert as Ama Wheelies fundraiser.