Airtel supports handicapped children, distressed families

AIRTEL Nigeria has given succour to physically challenged students in Abuja School for the Handicapped, located in Kuje, Abuja by donating textbooks, wheelchair/clutches and sports equipment to the school.

In its revolutionary CSR programme tagged ‘Touching Lives’, Airtel came to the aid of the school as it lacked necessary educational materials needed by the students who are suffering from disabilities such as autism, down syndrome and other physical challenges.

The school, established in 1999 to provide free education, free food and accommodation for disabled children, was nominated for the Touching Lives intervention by a physically challenged Youth Corp member, Joshua Isah, who was posted to the school.

One of the teachers in the school, Mohammed Yaya, noted that government cannot single-handedly cater for the school’s needs; therefore, the support given by Airtel was greatly appreciated. Through the Touching Lives programme, Airtel brought smile to faces of the children.

The Airtel’s PR team along with some media friends in Lagos, the telecommunications company allayed the emotional trauma of Mrs. Ruth Egwuatu, whose daughter, Treasure, suffered from cerebral palsy from birth. The medical condition prevented the girl from living a normal life as she could not walk, but lies on the floor and moves involuntarily. She constantly required the attention and care of her mother and grand mum.

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After being nominated for Airtel Touching Lives, the company bankrolled Treasure’s physiotherapy session, provided her speech therapy, and donated an imported deluxe wheelchair to aid her gradual recovery. Deeply touched by the gesture, Ruth commended the firm for coming to her aid, noting that her burden has been lightened and Treasure is improving gradually. The story is a revisit of the season 1.

Airtel Touching Lives offered support to a distraught widow, Caroline, who was struggling to fend for her only son, Miracle, who had become deaf and dumb after a severe illness at a tender age and on the verge of losing one of his eyes. Worse still, the family was also confronted with a challenge of accommodation. The plight was turned around through the programme as they were nominated by Precious Ndibueze, young man who could communicate with Miracle through sign-language. Airtel offered optometrist consultation for Miracle and offered to get eye-glasses to aid his sight. In addition to this, the company also opened grocery shop loaded with groceries for Caroline, thereby providing a source of livelihood for the family.