Sheila’s son, nine-year-old Emmanuel, suffers from cerebral palsy. “Ever since he was a baby, the community shunned us,” she said, which also made her other children feel isolated and excluded.
Sheila and her family live in Kilifi County, Kenya — a remote area with widespread misunderstandings about physical disabilities. Many believe that curses, incest, witchcraft or even God is to blame. Frequently, children are painfully abused by “healers” who perform excruciating exorcisms, cuttings, burnings, and live burials to “heal” children of their disabilities. Mothers are often believed to have caused the child’s infliction and consequently are subjected to much of the same inhumane treatment.
Until recently, young Emmanuel and his mother Sheila was in dire need of an advocate who would counsel them on their rights and refer them for care. Cross International intervened on their behalf. Thanks to Cross and our in-country partner, Kupenda for the Children, Emmanuel has received regular physical therapy. The results have been outstanding.
Before he began his physical therapy, Emmanuel was totally dependent on others. Now he can get in and out of his wheelchair by himself. He can crawl and stand up unaided, which would have once been inconceivable. It’s an amazing change for Emmanuel and for his brothers and sisters, as well. They can play and interact with him in a more normal manner. It’s truly a blessing!
With your help, we can transform even more lives and spread the love of Jesus
Cross International has programs serving children with disabilities in six countries — Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Kenya and Malawi — and serves more than 35,000 children and family members. Our work ranges from food distribution and community schools to therapeutic rehabilitation, to surgery, to residential programs, and biblically based leadership and community training to change beliefs and practices for a more just and participatory society.
In the first three years of this plan, we anticipate growing to reach a minimum of 60,000 children with disabilities and family members each year. This is significant, as these vulnerable children and their families are likely to be among the poorest members of the community. Children with disabilities are:
- Less likely to attend school
- Less likely to have adequate access to medical services
- Less likely to have their voices heard in society
Children with disabilities are at a higher risk of physical abuse and are often excluded from receiving proper nutrition or humanitarian assistance in emergencies. These are children devoid of awareness of life’s possibilities, of life’s hope, or a life of involvement even at the most basic levels of society. Families with disabilities are often shunned, isolated and lack economic opportunity, resulting in lives of poverty and living on the periphery of society.
On average, families who have a child with a disability have lower annual incomes.
In our work, Cross International regularly sees all the challenges described above. As a community of followers of Jesus and as an organization, we believe God is calling Cross to “go deeper and do more.” We are poised to significantly grow our position as an agent of action and influence to improve the lives of these children and their families.
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.
-Luke 14:13-14
Your gift to Cross International can help change the lives of children with disabilities and their families so that their lives can flourish and thrive!
