Running makes you smart and independent, a NAGGL for Tanzania.

After long and intensive preparation, we actually made it. The first NAGGL mobility aid flew to Tanzania with us in our luggage in October 2024. 

At first, my daughter and I were a little nervous about whether we would be able to manage it all so easily - transporting, assembling and then using the mobility aid with people from a different culture. As we already knew the conditions and the people there from previous trips, we informed Tanzanian friends in advance about the possibilities and opportunities that could arise from using the NAGGL for the children there. All of them were open-minded and looked forward to our visit.

Customs were a little sceptical about the individually packed wooden parts, neatly stowed away in a huge suitcase. Well, you can't blame them. The whole thing looked really strange on the X-ray control screen. However, after a brief explanation from us about the use of the device as a mobility aid for children with restricted movement and mobility, the officials were open-minded and allowed us to enter Tanzania.
After that, everything went like clockwork. Customs let us through and we set off on the 5-hour journey from Kilimanjaro airport in Tanzania up into the mountains towards Karatu, at the foot of the beautiful Ngorongoro Crater through the marvellous land of the Maasai. 

When we arrived at our familiar accommodation, we were, as always, eagerly awaited. 
My daughter Pauline assembled the device with the two Allen keys we had brought with us and together we made our way to little Kathrin, who we reached on foot in less than 10 minutes. We have known the girl for some time and also know something of her medical history, as her mother is an employee of the lodge.
 
The father works as a farmer and the two daughters are looked after by the mother's sister, as is usual in the region, while the parents are at work. 
Some of the lodge staff accompanied us, showed us the way and were particularly important for communicating with the family. The local language is Swahili, a beautiful but foreign language. 

When Kathrine saw the Naggl, she immediately realised that she really wanted to ride it. With the help of her mother, the little girl managed to stand up and get to the NAGGL on wobbly legs, supported on both sides by her mum. Unfortunately, Kathrin can't walk on her own. We lifted her onto the seat together and off she went, hands on the handle and moving on her own two feet. The NAGGL mobility aid also works as it should in Africa thanks to its intuitive design.

The Naggl mobility aid was developed on the basis of a neuro-orthopaedic therapy concept. The concept is based on a combination of high adaptability and sufficient support for the deficits, while at the same time adapting the dynamics of the device to the user's abilities.This combination promotes active standing by stimulating balance as the basis for sustainable active and self-determined mobility. Self-determined mobility in turn promotes the motivation to discover new things and, in turn, the curiosity and cognitive development of children. True to the motto 'walking makes you smart and independent’.

The joy that Kathrin felt when she was able to walk upright on her own for the first time, the hope in the parents' eyes that their daughter now has the chance to learn to walk on her own and the warm-hearted support of all the staff at the lodge touched us deeply and we knew that the journey and the effort were worth it. We will be back to accompany Kathrin and hopefully many more children on their way to a future worth living. 

Many thanks to all those who supported the project on the European and African side and made it possible and thank you very much for allowing us to be a part of you. 

If you are interested in finding out more about the Tanzania project, please contact [email protected].