Matumaini Centre

The Matumaini Centre opened in 2009 and is the project of Sr Adriana. It is a colourful, peaceful and happy place for many disabled children and their mothers. Run totally on the generosity of donors, it provides physiotherapy, education and rehabilitation services for disabled children and their families.
The centres' main objectives are:
* Improve health and mobility through diet, exercise and hygiene. 
* Enable access to medical help. 
* Empower women who care for disabled children.                        
* Strengthen the self-esteem of children and carers. 
* Show them how to support themselves.
                                                                                                        ​Holy Union Sisters, Tanzania

Before this centre was built, disabled children had no support. There is a severe lack of services in Tanzania and especially in the very populated area of Mbagala. Over 400 families have accessed the services of Matumaini and 100 attend daily or twice weekly for exercises, training and advice.  For these mothers it is also a great social outlet and an break from long days in the home caring for their families.  Mothers chat and do exercises with their children while they wait for their child's turn for massages and exercise.  
Specially adapted equipment and toys are provided and as soon as they arrive the mothers get to work on their children.  Physiotherapists and other medical professionals visit from time to time to examine the children and to give training to the staff. 
Most walk to the centre but there is also a bus which picks up mothers and children. This bus is fully funded by a donor also. 

Maikol's workshop makes supportive furniture, toys and prosthetic devices. Many of the children wear these boots to help them walk and strengthen their legs. The centre produces aids for affordable fees which would otherwise be totally unattainable for these children.  

Mothers of disabled children have very limited employment opportunities. In Matumaini mothers can avail of a sewing course while they attend physiotherapy sessions with their child. On completion of the course, they take the sewing machine home with them and can work from their home.

The centre also has a dining area and Uji is served to all the mothers and children. It is very nutritious and very tasty. It's made from maize porridge and enriched with milk, sugar, millet, rice, soya and nuts.  To me it tasted like a hot malt drink and was very filling. This might be the only meal some of the families receive all day. 

The schoolroom provides access to education for these children, it also keeps children occupied while their mothers are sewing. One little character really enjoyed trying on my sunglasses!