Lenia is a 22-year-old woman who found herself alone after being abandoned by her husband due to the birth of a daughter with congenital disabilities. The child, Rebecca, at the age of 7, needed a wheelchair. Lenia, who loves her daughter more than anything else in the world, would have been willing to make any sacrifice to ensure her happy and comfortable life. However, the expenses associated with the purchase of a wheelchair far exceeded her very modest financial resources. Lenia thus found herself in a situation where she did not know where she could turn for help, until in a conversation with a neighbor, she was fortunate enough to learn about the Shalom Center and the Edu-Care project. Through the latter, she was able to find a special place within the Kanyama community where people come together to offer support to each other.
Lenia made the decision to get in touch with the Shalom Center to ask for assistance regarding the wheelchair Rebecca needed The staff involved in the project showed extraordinary kindness in listening to her story and fully understood the importance of providing Rebecca with the mobility she needed. Not only did Lenia thus receive a wheelchair for Rebecca, but she wanted to do her part to help other people in the same situation as her. So she chose to become a community ambassador for the Edu-Care project.
Lenia is now at the center of efforts to raise awareness in the Kanyama community about disability issues and the importance of inclusion. With great passion and dedication, Lenia began organizing events and educational meetings on disability within her community. She gained significant knowledge of the challenges faced by parents of children with disabilities and wanted to share this knowledge in order to promote the creation of a more empathetic and inclusive community.
Her voice has become a beacon of hope for many, inspiring others to join the cause. Lenia did not stop there, however. To support her daughter’s necessary medical expenses, she began working at the Shalom Center’s school store built through the Edu- Care project. Lenia, works alongside young people with disabilities who do internships in the store, offering them training to learn a trade and be more easily placed in the working world. Today, thanks to the Edu-Care project, Lenia contributes not only to improving her daughter’s life, but also to making the Kanyama community a better place for everyone.
Lenia’s story has become a tangible example of how the strength of a mother and the support of a community can make a profound change in the lives of those facing complex challenges. With her unwavering commitment and unconditional love for Rebecca, Lenia proved that empathy and solidarity can indeed change the world, one person at a time.