“Addressing the triple threat of rurality, poverty and disability.”

Sixty-five million people cannot walk without assistance, and eighty percent of those people live in developing and under-resourced countries (UN Dev. Programme).

In under-resourced regions first and last mile access to public transport, and therefore health care and social services, is negatively impacted by lack of adequate local transportation and transfer modalities. Wheelchairs, even when available, have limited use due to environmental obstacles encountered in informal settlements and rural areas e.g. uneven terrain, lack of tarred roads, narrow single-track pathways, limited turning space between houses, rocks, rivers and other obstacles.

Those who experience the most limited-mobility and who need transport to reach basic and emergency health care services are moved on relative’s backs, on donkeys, in blankets or in wheelbarrows where the average distance from a home to a vehicle-accessible path is often more than 2-3 km.

SSE has prototyped, designed and tested at its ISO-certified factory, an innovative series of non-motorised devices that can manage the most difficult of terrains; a porter system to operate the devices; and, has received acceptance by the largest national minibus taxi service in the country.

The project design allows for the creative combination of these elements at a systemic level, rather than seeing each element in isolation. This is a truly unique global ‘first/last mile’ innovation that provides a solution for all people needing safe and dignified access to healthcare and other services on a day to day basis, or in a situation of humanitarian emergency or natural disaster, as prioritised in the UNCRDP article 11.

Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies (art. 11)

20. The Committee is concerned about the lack of a national plan for disaster risk reduction to support persons with disabilities in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies, especially persons with psychosocial and/or intellectual disabilities and persons who are blind or visually impaired. It is also concerned about the lack of access to information in appropriate formats including emergency related information, evacuation systems, transportation and shelters. CRPD/C/ZAF/CO/R.16

The solution provides not only dignified transport, which addresses the requirement in the WHITE PAPER ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, but also income generation, through the provision of Micro-Mobility as a Service by trainer porters who provide safe transfer in and out of the transporter and the trip to public transport.

6.1.1.3 Access to Transport

…..The link between the home and transportation, the link from the transportation to the workplace or social services is essentially frequently overlooked. It is important that access to transport be viewed across the entire travel value chain: ….. Getting to the pick-up point – being able to negotiate footpaths, cycle paths etc.;

——————-

Project 1 Climate Response

Amaoti, Inanda, eThekwini Municipality, KZN 2021- 2022

Funded by Royal HaskoningDHV South Africa

In April 2021 wide-spread flooding devastated KZN resulting in unprecedented loss of lives and damage to infrastructure.

In Amaoti, the road that connected the majority of the area to the clinic, special needs school, high school and junior school was washed away. A temporary single width sandbag footbridge was provided in its place.

Initially public transport (minibus taxis) diverted around this route, taking commuters to the other side of the river to reach facilities. This route included a steep, single lane road on the last mile of the journey and, after multiple accidents, vehicles going off the road, and loss of life, resulted in the banning of taxis travelling this route. Those who could not afford private transport were left to negotiate the temporary footbridge, including many with disabilities.

SSE trained and equipped porters to provide services to residents with disabilities to traverse the footbridge, and in some cases to complete the journey from the footbridge to the clinic.

Watch it in action here.

——————-

Project 2 Rural Transport

uMshwathi, Msunduzi Municipality (Pietermaritzburg), KZN 2023 – currently still running 2024/2025

Funded by Royal HaskoningDHV South Africa

Learnings from the Amaoti project were implemented in uMshwathi, including consultation with traditional local leaders in the areas of service.

Watch our short documentary here to see the impact access to public transport has on the lives of persons with disabilities living in rural areas.

——————-

Project 3 Micro Enterprise Development for Social Enterprise

Khayelitsha, City of Cape Town Municipality launched December 2024 – currently running 2024/2025

Funded by Swiss Re Foundation – Shine South Africa 2024

In the 3rd project, parents of children with disabilities resident in Khayelitsha have been trained and equipped with transporters to enable them to assist their own children to reach public transport.

Additionally, they have received micro enterprise development training and uniforms with their chosen branding. They operate in teams, sharing the SSE Off-Road transporter assets, to provide Micro-mobility as a Service to other families in area, and charge for their services. This allows them to work close to home and earn an income on a part-time basis and still meet their children’s requirements for clinic, doctor and hospital visits. The formation of self-managing teams means the Transporter assets can be used full-time.

Meet the team here & Follow them on Facebook.

Should you wish to get involved in a project to either fund a person’s trip with the porters, or to fund a new project area, please send an enquiry.

Thank you.

#MakeADifference#RemovingBarriers#MadeInAfrica#SocialSupport#Development#SocioEconomicDevelopment#Shonaquip#ShonaquipSocialEnterprise#SDG#MakeADifference#DoGood#Inclusion#DoingGoodFeelsGood#HumanRights

.