‘For the first time I have my own chair’: Gaza siblings find new freedom

This article is published in association with United Nations.

In Gaza, 10-year-old Anas is one of three siblings born without legs and with only two fingers on each of their hands. They struggle to move around and perform daily activities like eating and writing independently.

With funding from the UN’s aid coordination office (OCHA), and despite the ongoing violence across the Gaza Strip, the international non-governmental organisation EducAid helped the three siblings get customised devices to help them meet their daily needs.

Anas: ‘I’m very happy’

Before receiving support, Anas relied heavily on crawling using his hands, and his mother often had to carry him.

Writing and eating were also particularly challenging due to poor balance and limited hand grip.

EducAid upgraded his wheelchair, adding a detachable wheelchair table and an adaptive waterproof protector shield for his lower body.

He also received a customised pen grip and an adjustable slant table which enabled him to study more easily, along with hand-walking aids which allow him to move around more independently.

“I am very happy and I love you so much,” he told the support team.

His mother was also very grateful for these upgrades.

“Today, these assistive tools have helped him become more independent, especially with writing and eating,” she said.

Sujood: ‘I feel that someone cares about me’

Sujood, Anas’ older sister, is a 17-year-old girl with similar disabilities. She was also born without legs and with only two fingers on each hand, which greatly inhibited her mobility and independence.

To address these issues, EducAid provided a comprehensive set of solutions, including a size-40 wheelchair, fitted with a detachable dining table, and an adjustable slant table for daily use.

“For the first time I have my own chair. I slept in it so that none of my siblings would take it from me,” Sujood said. “I feel that someone cares about me.”

In addition, as with her brother Anas, she received an adaptive lower body waterproof protector shield and hand support walking aid to help her move around and protect her hands when she does so.

Before these devices, writing was exhausting and required her to lie down. With the new chair and table, she can write comfortably.

“This chair will help me achieve my dreams and study the field I love – which is media. Now I can move outside the tent without messing up my clothes,” she said.

Mohammad: ‘My clothes no longer get dirty’

15-year-old Mohammad was also born without legs and with only two fingers on each hand.

EducAid studied his needs both in school and home environments and designed and produced a range of customised devices in their workshops and laboratories to address the particular challenges he faces.

One of the final products was a specially adapted wheelchair with a skateboard, which Mohammad loves for his mobility.

“The hand grips protect Mohammad’s hands from wounds, slipping, and the hardship of crawling,” said his mother. “The table is very helpful, and he was very happy using the small skateboard chair. The commode chair made a huge difference.”

Like his sister Sujood, he enjoys his greater freedom of movement.

“I am very happy with the table – my clothes no longer get dirty,” he said.

“The children are distinguished in learning, they are eager to study, and they truly deserve a chance,” said their teacher, who noted that the children had “started writing more effectively”.

You can help children like Anas, Sujood and Mohammad enjoy their childhood and achieve their full potential by contributing here.