"For the first time, my wheelchair supports me" A story of three siblings in Gaza

05 Nov 2026

Anas Al-Sharif: "I'm very happy"

Anas, aged 10, was born without legs, and with only two fingers on each of his hands. These conditions significantly affected his mobility, balance, and ability to perform daily activities independently.

Anas enjoying a class together with other children.

But that would change significantly in 2025, even as the war raged on in Gaza.

With funding support from the OCHA-managed Occupied Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund (OPT HF), the international non-governmental organization EducAid helped Anas achieve his full potential and lead a happier life.

EducAid support teams serviced and upgraded his wheelchair, adding a detachable wheelchair table and an adaptive waterproof protector shield for his lower body.

With a customized pen grip and an adjustable slant table, Anas could finally write with ease.

Anas is doing homework, using the grip provided by EducAid.

Without a proper grip, he said the pen used to slip from his hand making it hard for him to write before the upgrade.

His mobility was also improved by providing him with a hand support walking aid.

“I am very happy and I love you so much,” he declared to the support team.

Anas' new wheelchair and assistive tools enable him to study more easily.

Before receiving support, Anas relied heavily on crawling using his hands, and his mother often had to carry him. Writing and eating were particularly challenging due to poor balance and the limited hand grip.

Anas (right) and his brother Mohammad (left) are trying out the new hand-walking aids.

This combined support significantly improved Anas’s stability, safety, and functional independence – especially in writing, eating, and mobility.

“Before [this], the difference was huge – I used to carry Anas, and he had to crawl on his hands,” said Anas’s mother. “Today, these assistive tools have helped him become more independent, especially with writing and eating."

Sujood Al-Sharif: ‘I feel that someone cares about me.’

Sujood is a 17-year-old girl and, like her younger brother Anas, was born without legs, and with similar deformities in her hands – only two fingers on each hand.

These physical challenges have significantly affected her, inhibiting her mobility, daily activities, and ability to participate comfortably in learning and self-care tasks.

Sujood is trying out her new wheelchair, which will support her movement significantly.

To support her writing and independence, EducAid provided a comprehensive set of solutions, including a size-40 wheelchair, fitted with a detachable dining table, and an adjustable slant table for daily use.

“For the first time I have my own chair. I slept in it so that none of my siblings would take it from me,” Sujood said. “I feel that someone cares about me.”

In addition, as with her brother Anas, she was provided with an adaptive lower body waterproof protector shield and hand support walking aid to support safer walking and protect her hands when she moves.

Before this, writing was an exhausting undertaking that required her to lie down. With the new chair and table, she can write comfortably.

“This chair will help me achieve my dreams and study the field I love – which is Media. Now I can move outside the tent without messing up my clothes,” she said.

Sujood can now move more safely and perform daily activities with greater comfort – enhancing both her independence and confidence.

Sujood has also received tools to help her walk on her hands.

Mohammad Al Sharif: ‘My clothes no longer get dirty’

Mohammad, aged 15, was also born without legs, and with only two fingers on each hand. Like his siblings, these conditions have affected his mobility, balance, and ability to perform daily activities independently since early childhood.

Mohammad tries out his new wheelchair with EducAid staff members.

Following a comprehensive assessment by EducAid’s team, Mohammad’s needs were identified across both school and home environments. The goal was to ensure a holistic response that would support all aspects of his daily life.

Based on this assessment, a range of customized assistive devices were designed and produced in EducAid’s workshops and laboratories, including a skateboard that Mohammad loves for his mobility.

Team members of EducAid help Mohammad use his customised wheelchair for the first time.

“I am very happy with the table – my clothes no longer get dirty,” he said, echoing Sujood’s experience that writing had become easier.

“The hand grips protect Mohammad’s hands from wounds, slipping, and the hardship of crawling,” said his mother. “The table is very helpful, and he was very happy using the small skateboard chair. The commode chair made a huge difference."

“The children are distinguished in learning, they are eager to study, and they truly deserve a chance,” said their teacher, who noted that the children had “started writing more effectively”.

For Anas, Sujood and Mohammad, these integrated interventions changed their lives – both at school and at home.

The OPT HF’s generous funding partners made the support provided to these three siblings possible.

You can help children like Anas, Sujood and Mohammad enjoy their childhood and achieve their full potential by contributing here.