'Disability is not inability'

Monday 6th October

I took a local minibus to the town on Harar this morning. It took at least double the length of time it should as it stopped at every opportunity. I was sitting in the front between the driver and a passenger. After talking with the passenger for a while I found out that his father had been killed in the Ethiopia-Somalia war and he had grown up in an orphanage as his mother couldn't afford to look after him. I found out a few minutes later that the passenger had paid my bus fare for me and there was no way he would accept any money from me. He was so poor, yet so generous. What a contrast to the majority in the UK.

Shortly after arriving in Harar, I walked with the passenger up to the Hamlin Fistula Hospital, where he wished me good luck and went on his way. I was pleased to see the hospital's first patient had arrived today. She didn't know her age. The hospital staff guessed she was about 15 but she looked much younger. An obstructed labour, lasting four days, had left her incontinent and with a still-born baby. She is due to undergo surgery on the fistula injury next Monday.

Whilst waiting for an appointment with the next project, Cheshire Services, I decided to pay a visit to the Harar Beer factory. I don't think they are accustomed to having visitors but that didn't stop them from giving me a really thorough, in-depth tour of all the processes in the factory. The factory is a major employer in the region and takes a number of chemistry, micro-biology and engineering students from local universities. They employ over 1000 staff on that site alone!

After the factory tour, I took a tuk-tuk to Cheshire Services and met Hiwot, the project leader. Cheshire Services help disabled people to achieve their full potentials and become fully integrated into society. They follow the motto 'disability is not inability' which is certainly reflected in their work. They support people affected by cerebral palsy, hearing impairments, learning difficulties and many other physical and mental problems. Hiwot and I observed a kindergarten class run by Cheshire Services. Those with disabilities are educated alongside those without. This kindergarten is the first of its kind in Harar and a model for the region.

Hiwot then took me to a workshop hidden away in an alleyway of a poor Harare kebele. An amputee who has benefited from Cheshire's micro-finance programme was hard at work. With just one arm, he showed me how to turn 'USA' tin cans into sieves which he now sells in the wholesale market. Cheshire's help seems to be making a real difference to both disabled people and their families.