Its been four months since you last heard from us but that doesn’t mean we have been sitting on our hands quietly! In fact, in this latest Take My Hands newsletter we introduce our newest Board member – Jonathan Hulme, our newest team member – Jemma Ross, we discuss the projects we have under way, we share two One Percent Collective stories that we have featured in and, first up, you will read about the impact of the work we’ve been doing with the Hope Rehabilitation Society in Pakistan. Phew!
As always, the important work we do couldn’t be achieved without the volunteers, donors and organisations who support us. We love what we do and the people we get to work with on a daily basis.
Here’s where we tell you more…
Mukhtar’s New LegImagine losing an arm or leg, what that would mean for your independence, your family, your ability to continue working. Fortunately, it doesn’t always have to be so dire – modern prosthetics, or artificial limbs, are more widely available than ever and are pretty darn good at replacing that limb.
However, for those who can’t afford them it’s a different story, and that was the case for Mukhtar in Pakistan after he was hit by a truck and lost his leg above the knee. That’s where our partner charity Take My Hands comes in, zooming medical equipment around the world to those in need. Their Manager Janette Searle shares the story of getting Mukhtar a new leg all the way from little old NZ.
Driving in Pakistan is like dicing with death on a daily basis. Hazards you might encounter on your way to work include everything from the speeding Mercedes, motorcycles with the whole family strapped on, to one wheeled donkey carts and landmines … and that’s just on one stretch of road. Needless to say, road accidents are one of the main causes of major injury and leg amputation in Pakistan.
Mukhtar Ahmed was involved in one such accident. He was hit by a truck and ended up losing his leg above the knee. After amputation, he received a conventional heavy leg made of wood, which quickly became problematic, causing excessive pain and offering only limited mobility.
With hopes of getting his mobility back he visited the HOPE Center, where he was provided with a new above-the-knee modular leg free of cost. Because of this, he has been able to regain his mobility and continue earning his living as a barber.
The leg that Mukhtar received was donated by us here at Take My Hands, and came all the way from New Zealand. Since 2010, we’ve been working with the Hope Rehabilitation Society in Pakistan to provide artificial limbs and equipment, which have been used to help over 150 people.
When we looked into our impact of providing these limbs we realised a few things. One – it had only cost us a few hundred dollars to send those first few shipments. Two – we had sent nearly 1000kg of equipment to the Hope Center, and three – the value of the impact on the people who had received our artificial limbs, not only in terms of saving on the cost of the limb, but in their ability to return to a normal life, was nearly $1 million dollars.
It was that impact that encouraged us to go on and create the Take My Hands we have today, and it is that impact that encourages us to keep growing the work that we do.
Over June and July, we will be sending another shipment of prosthetic (artificial limbs), orthotic and general medical equipment to the Hope Rehabilitation Society for them to use in their Limbs for All programme.
To all our One Percent Collective donors who support our work – your dollars will help us with that shipment, and in a few months, we’ll be able to start showing you the people that have been helped as a result of your one percent.
Until then, travel safe my friends!
Solomon Islands Shipment
At the beginning of the month we put together a container of medical supplies to send over to the Solomon Islands. We expect the container will arrive around the 10th of July , and will then be distributed through to the NRH Hospital in Honiara, and some of the local health clinics and then on to patients in need. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we could fill a 20ft container with 5500kg of equipment that ranged from hospital beds, to surgical gloves. These items have no commercial value here in New Zealand but provide real value and relief over in the Islands.
You can read about the impact of our last shipment over on the One Percent Collective website here.
Introduction to our newest Board member
In March this year, we appointed a new Board Member, Jonathan Hulme. Jonathan is the Senior Manager of Terminal Operations & Employment Relations at Ports of Auckland. He has 20 years’ worth of knowledge of all things to do with shipping, logistics, and port operations and understands both the joys and challenges of working internationally. This experience and industry know-how is a big advantage for the work we are doing here at Take My Hands. We’re delighted to have him join our board, and Jonathan tells us “I am excited to be a part of Take My Hands and am looking forward to using my skillset and knowledge to support the fantastic work already being done”.
Introduction to our newest team member
With things really ramping up for Take My Hands this year, it has become necessary to get some help with the administrative and logistic side of things. We are excited to welcome our newest team member, Jemma Ross.
Jemma brings with her a strong administrative and co-ordination background with a bit of HR and fashion design in the mix too.
We are ready to get to work with her and to take advantage of her fresh eyes and enthusiastic ideas.
