A 10-year-old student with a disability is a recipient of a wheelchair courtesy of the Samoa Victim Support Group (S.V.S.G.).

The S.V.S.G. Juniors vice president, Franzisca Sione, said they received the request from the school. 

He said they first came across Aiaraisa Mose – who is in Year 6 this year – when he was carried around by peers during the lunch break at the Aele Fou Primary School. 

“During our Buddy up Programme my team and I were organizing three students to begin studies at Aele Fou Primary School but we also witnessed a young boy being carried around by students during lunch break.

“The name of that young boy is Aiaraisa Mose currently in Year six. We were intrigued by his passion for learning and how smart he was during class. He would move from one room to the other by students carrying him.

“Although he did not have the ability to walk, it did not stop him from attending school, and so today (yesterday) we managed to gift him with an assistance that make it easier for him to travel from one places to another and that is his first wheelchair,” he said. 

The S.V.S.G. Juniors vice president also spoke about how they learnt a number of lessons during the donation ceremony. 

“This is not the first time we have conducted a donation of a wheelchair, and the wheelchairs are from people or organisations that have donated to us, and we have extended this help out to more people.

“We welcome the requests and if the help is not getting out there, it is only because they have not voiced their concerns and the need of help and of course we try and assist in any way we can.

“We have learned so much from this young boy, and one of those lessons is how some people who are fortunate are not grateful for what they have. But for the ones that have so little, they tend to appreciate everything,” he added.

He also said even though Aiaraisa has a disability, he looked like a very happy and active child.