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Update report from Lindsey Hopkinson, a volunteer at Amneyo

As a backpacker traveling across Latin America I decided to stay in Mancoura once I discovered Maria's charity. I asked local motor taxi drivers and locals if any charities were set up locally helping children with special needs. I met with Maria and spent 5 weeks working with her charity. My backgroung in England is specialist paediatric physiotherapist working within the NHS in London. I assessed all the children known to Maria's charity with physical disorders (cerebral Palsy and genetic syndromes). I advised Maria and her team of Pervian physiotherapists on treatment techniques, management and equipment for individual children.
During this time I suggested an orthotics clinic and a seating clinic. Within the orthotics clinic we assessed and discussed with the orthotist suitable prescription splints, shoes and insoles for all children who would benefit.
The seating clinic consisted of a local carpenter, translator, backpacker with carpentry experience, 3 children and their parents, Maria and myself. It was a fantastic clinic where we assessed every child, problem solved and developed individual seating designs to produce a seat for the childs home with the aim to reduce contractures/deformities, improve communication/access to education, improve manual handling and general activities of daily life, example feeding for the children and their families.
Unfortunateley I had to laeve befor the chairs were completed but Maria has sent me pictures. The chairs look good but just need some adaptations which I have emailled to Maria. So now I am waiting for further pictures to show the chairs with the children and the adaptations.
Maria has some pictures of the orthotics clinic and seating systems which can be added to this description. Maria will surely need to ask for parental consent before placing them.
Many thanks.
Lindsey Hopkinson (UK)

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