Harris’s spinal cord injury meant two long, difficult months in Blantyre’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He was then transferred to Kachere – the only rehabilitation centre in the country.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. HIV and AIDS, malnutrition and poor access to health services are just a few of the challenges faced by families every day. According to the UN, 73.9 per cent of the population live on less than $1.25 a day.

Frequently excluded and discriminated against, disabled people are commonly the poorest members of society. So it’s unsurprising that Harris was fearful for his family and his future. “I thought I’d never be able to go back to work,” he remembers.

In March 2011, Harris was one of a group of inpatients from Kachere who attended our peer group training. This was led by Bylon, an experienced wheelchair user – a role model for Harris and his fellow trainees.

First, Harris learnt how to use his Motivation wheelchair: how to get in and out, how to negotiate potholes, hills and steps, how best to push himself. People often don’t leave the house because they worry about falling out of their wheelchairs in public. Our training tackles this head-on: thanks to demonstrations from Bylon and lots of practise, Harris mastered the art of getting back into his chair from the ground.

Next, Harris learnt about how to stay healthy. Bylon led sessions on bowel and bladder management – another sensitive issue that stops people leaving the house – and how to identify and prevent pressure sores. The latter can be fatal, so these sessions go beyond basic health and well-being – they’re about survival.

Sport plays a big part in our training. It’s not just about practising mobility skills; it’s a chance for people to feel truly active and powerful. Equally popular is the session on sex and relationships. Here, people discover that their disability doesn’t have to stop them forming a relationship and raising a family. This session is a revelation for many participants – one that transforms how they feel about themselves and how they think about their future.

Harris’s main concern was about earning a living. He’d had a steady job before his accident; now he wondered how he could provide for his family. But he didn’t need to worry. Soon after he was discharged from the rehabilitation centre in May this year, Harris was offered a job as a garage supervisor.

“I am so grateful to Motivation for the wheelchair and the training,” says Harris. “They make it easy for me to go to work. I am earning a living again and supporting my family.”