mobility is hope.
mobility is dignity.
mobility is independence.
Mobility impacts everything we do and every opportunity we have.
Self-sufficiency.
Lack of access to care can make people with disabilities overly dependent on family members – preventing both the person with disability and the family members from becoming economically active and socially included.
When we met five year old Ashok, his family was still attempting to save the money necessary to buy his first wheelchair. Without one, Ashok had to be carried by his mother everywhere, unable to move independently. After receiving his first wheelchair, not only can Ashok now move on his own, he can also feed himself, and play with toys he keeps on his wheelchair table. Ashok’s mother also now has the time and freedom to go back to work to support her family.
Education.
On average, a child in a LMIC lives 3 miles from the nearest primary school. Without the ability to physically walk or bike to school, they simply cannot and do not receive an education. In fact, 90% of children living with disabilities in emerging countries do not attend school.
After 12 year old Xeng lost his leg in an automobile accident, he could not stand, let alone walk to school. A once star-student, he felt lonely and shy, unable to envision a future for himself. Five years later we provided Xeng with his first prosthetic leg. 17 year old Xeng is now back in school with his sights set on becoming a dentist (and yes, he's back at the top of his class!).
Employment.
Worldwide, persons with disabilities are 2.5 times as likely to be unemployed, and only 15% are employed. Without the option to secure gainful employment, a person with a disability in a LMIC is unable to break the cycle of poverty they were born into.
19 year old Wanda has been a CoolKid since she was nine years old. Today, Wanda proudly works at a local factory, supporting herself and her family. Ask her, and she'll gladly share that she's their top employee. Highly ambitious and full of energy, Wanda dreams of one day starting her own business.
Community.
According to the World Health Organization, persons with disabilities are almost always denied equal access to health care, employment, education, or political participation because of their disability, ostracizing them from their communities.
After Sachin lost his legs at 19, he remained bed-bound for eight months as he recovered. During this time, Sachin lost his self-confidence and became plagued by negative thoughts. After we provided Sachin with his prosthetic legs, and after many months of therapy, he joined a gym. Since joining, Sachin has built a community of friends at the gym, and on social media, and has found happiness in being a source of inspiration and positivity for others.
Mobility is essential to achieving the UN’s SDG Goals.
Your support provides life-changing mobility and actively contributes to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
In 2015 the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) created 17 Global Goals that were adopted by 193 countries around the world. We are a proud consultant of ECOSOC, whose aim is to end extreme poverty, inequality, and climate change by 2030. Of those 17 goals, your advocacy directly supports:
SDG #1 — No Poverty.
Mobility is fundamental to a child’s ability to be independent, to access education in areas where public transportation is not an option, and to break the cycle of poverty they were born into. After receiving care, a CoolKid’s parents will often return to work, or begin work for the first time, helping to contribute to the overall success of their family.
SDG #3 — Good Health and Well Being.
Our mobility solutions improve the quality of life for children whose families, earning less than $2.50/day, could otherwise not afford even the most basic care.
SDG #8 — Decent Work.
Mobility is critical to a child’s ability to one day secure gainful employment, instead of the dangerous and low-paying work such as street begging or waste pickers that children with untreated limb disabilities often rely on. We partner exclusively with programs who employ persons with disabilities.
SDG #10 — Reduce Inequalities.
Our mobility solutions are designed not only to provide mobility, but to uplift each unique child. Our mobility aids have shown to improve self-esteem, combat social stigma around disability, and give our CoolKids the confidence to pursue their dreams.
Only $25 a month keeps 6 CoolKids moving a year.
As our CoolKids grow they require one to three adjustments per year to their mobility devices. We’re committed to providing free ongoing care to our CoolKids, ensuring they maintain their mobility, and all the opportunities mobility offers, through the age of 21.
One of our first CoolKids, Bhupendra, received his first prosthetic limb in 2006 at the age of eight. He is now 21 and has received more than 25 prostheses from our programs.
When a CoolKid like Bhupendra, who was not able to walk to school and receive an education, grows up to graduate from university with a degree in chemistry and hope for the future - that's GrowingUpALTSO. Learn more about the CoolKids Club.