Felesita Auchas entered a new chapter of mobility and hope when she received a brand-new wheelchair last week, marking the end of a five-year struggle with a wheelchair which moved only in reverse.

The City of Windhoek, the University of Namibia, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, and the Pamwenase College of Education joined hands to make a significant difference in the life of Auchas, a community member from the Katutura East constituency.

The 32-year-old was overwhelmed with gratitude as she received the life-changing gift. For half a decade, she had battled the limitations of a malfunctioning wheelchair, a challenge that tested her perseverance every day.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Auchas expressed her heartfelt appreciation and shared her long-fought journey, emphasising the trials she faced.

“I will never forget this day. I can’t believe that from now on, I will be moving freely and comfortably in my new wheelchair,” she beamed.

Her life earlier took an unexpected turn when she contracted tuberculosis, which badly affected her spinal cord. This made her reliant on a wheelchair for her daily mobility needs. The challenges she encountered, including the inability to move forward, took a toll on her quality of life.

Auchas added that the act of kindness and collaboration has given her newfound hope, saying that with her new wheelchair, she is ready to embrace the world with open arms, breaking free from the
constraints which have held her back for far too long.

Oxhey Mathis is the coordinator at the Khaimabasen Community Development Centre and an intern at the City of
Windhoek, who played a vital role in this act of kindness. He first
met Auchas during a training session at the Katutura Community Hall’s Reading Centre, and
noticed the wheelchair’s bad condition.

Mathis couldn’t stand idly by, as he was deeply moved by the situation. He reached out to the Pamwenase College for support, and their collaborative efforts resulted in the presentation of this new wheelchair to Auchas. “Helping people makes me happy,
and seeing people smile makes me even happier,” he said. 

Mathis thus called on more organisations to assist children with special needs. 

Section Head of Youth Development at the City of Windhoek Trudy Geises said that with this initiative, the City wants to make a positive impact in the lives of young people. She is also very proud that Auchas came to the Reading Centre for training
and to acquire skills.

“The City is more than happy to assist where it can. We do not want anyone to feel left out. We want to make a positive impact,” she noted.

Geises added that it is an honour to partner with Unam, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, and the main sponsor Pamwenase.

Pamwenase Ngweda likewise
expressed gratitude to all the sponsors for identifying people from Katutura East for help. 

“Auchas is one of us here in Katutura East. She is one of the students whom we are training at the Pamwenase College of Education, and we are very grateful to be working with all the donors,” she said.

Pamwenase College of Education was established in 2021, and offers community-based courses.  

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