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Abia AT Workshop
The POP workshop was built in February 2023 with a grant from the British High Commission in Lesotho. Appropriate Paper-based Technology (APT) is used to produce bespoke assistive chairs using recycled cardboard, newspapers, cereal boxes, flour, and water glue. These materials are cheap and sustainable. Chairs are used to support children sitting up, strengthening head control, postural muscles, encouraging the use of fine motor skills, activities of daily living, and social interaction. Standers are also produced to support children in standing, strengthen legs and core muscles and improve balance.
POP has fitted over 150 children with chairs and standers between 2023-2025 across three districts. Each child is individually assessed by the physiotherapist to ascertain their needs and the measurements taken to make bespoke equipment. POP makes three basic designs of chairs, A 90-degree chair for children with reasonable head and trunk control, full length reclining chairs for children with weak head and trunk control and chairs with knee blocks for children with a type of CP that causes uncontrolled movements. The chairs all have lap belts, and slide on trays. The tray can be used to encourage fine motor skills through play and education and activities of daily living including feeding and personal care.
Three sheets of newspapers and a final layer of potato bags glued together with the flour and water paste are used to finish the APT chairs and make them strong.
The final product is varnished and yoga mat material is added for grip and belts to secure the pelvis and chest. Please click on the video if you wish to learn more about the processes used to make an APT chair.
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There are many skilled processes when making an APT chair. After cutting out the parts of the chair according to the assessment sheet, they are glued together with flour and water glue. The joints are strengthened with “brackets”, made from thin card like cereal packets, tea packets, etc. Rolled up newspapers are used to make rods and brace the chair at the back and underneath the seat.
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