They Are All Disables But Determine - Executive Director of MJ missions

Peter Afolabi, the Executive Director of the Macedonia Jerusalem Mission (MJ Mission), a charity arm of the Mount Moriah Church's Solution Ground, has revealed that some people in Karni, in the Upper West region, have lost their sight and others are limbless, but they are a determined people in the face of hopelessness. 

Apart from being impoverished, Karni Village is symbolic for its residents, many of whom are disabled in some way but share the same goal: to make a life for themselves and their families, no matter how modest. 

The non-governmental organization (NGO) in charge of monitoring the situation says it is constricted but will continue the initiative because it is a spiritual calling to adopt the community to raise resources from Accra to donate to them to complement their hard work. 

Peter Afolabi, the Executive Director, stated that his organization's vision is based on three pillars, which he hopes to use to improve the lives of the country's least fortunate. 
"We act as a voice for the voiceless, a conduit through which resources from society can be channeled to those we consider to be less privileged, and we also stimulate entrepreneurial development among those individuals," he said. 
At Karni, the initiative has four goals: 
1. Assist disabled members of the Karni community in farming sustainably. 
2. To develop the human capital of these households to leave a lasting legacy. 
3. To make Karni's story a shining example for both able-bodied people and people with disabilities (PWD). 
4. Attract tourists to witness visually impaired farmers' farming abilities.

The NGO hopes to build vocational training programs for some of the less fortunate people to provide them with skills that they may use to support themselves, in addition to farming and menial labor." Mr. Afolabi went on to explain.

 During its initial visit to Karni in the first quarter of 2016, it distributed used clothing, bicycles, and farming equipment to the area's physically challenged and visually impaired residents. 

The long-term goal is to develop a long-term working connection with the Karni community, particularly with those who are disabled in some way. 
We will empower them, in collaboration with our strategic partners, to farm sustainably while also supporting the development of their children's human capital.

However, these admirable goals will not be realized without the help of individuals and businesses. 
Hamza, 33, the main coordinator at Karni who connects the 22 homes, lost his sight thirteen years ago after being hit by a football one afternoon. 

He claims that after receiving an eye drop, health experts assured him that he would be well and that he has never regained his sight. 

"I recall that day like it was yesterday; I had just gotten home from school on a Tuesday afternoon when I decided to go to the park with a group of friends." Hamza reminisces. 

“Until I was hit by a flying ball, it was an interesting game of football. I was drowsy at the time. When I went to the health facility later, they told me it wasn't a significant injury and gave me an eye drop”, he explained.

His desire to enhance his study led to his acceptance to the University of Education in Winneba hence his condition, however, made education difficult, especially given the treatment he got from others.

Another farmer who is blind has been farming in his condition for nearly 15 years. He claims, though, that he has become accustomed to it and now travels to the farm alone to work. 

He went into detail about... "I walk gently to this location, using my stick." I'm aware of it since it's my garden. To travel to the farm, I don't need much help." He made the observation.

 He claims that he only farms the crops to help pay for his children's education and to keep his family together. 
"It's something I've been doing for years," he said

“So I use my hand to feel the plants, and if I don't like what I feel, I don't touch them”, he added.
The government's Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) initiative, according to assembly member Kabiri Luanga, does not cover all of these disabled people.

 There have been calls from many quarters to open up the program to account for all of the physically challenged people and their families who are now enrolled, but this remains to be seen. 

There are also concerns about the disability common fund being delayed or not released at all. 
"We also understand that gaining access to the disability fund for members of the Lambusse-Karni District Assembly has been a struggle," he added. 

Getting help from outside has been tough for one of the most impoverished towns in the Upper West Region. 
Karni's residents have a variety of needs.

Meanwhile, by the end of March 2022, the Executive Director and his team will travel to Karni to assist the Physically Challenged Farmers. 

They are appealing to people all across the world to assist these physically challenged framers with clothing and farming equipment, among other things. 

All payments should be given to Peter Afolabi via the following addresses: [email protected] +233 57 895 0095 Whatsapp +233 24 311 3408 Telephone

Mary Ahenkra Oduraa