Biko said goodbye on two legs after six months

Biko came to Kirchdorf from Kakonko in northwest Tanzania six months ago on just one leg. Now 24-year-old Fransisco Joachim Kimila, his full name, left his host country on two legs. Biko, here with project manager Günther Humer and Maria Spernbauer, with whom he lived, has only one leg due to a congenital deformity, and both arms are severely deformed.

• also read: No arms and only one leg: An operation in Kirchdorf gives “Biko” hope

The Kakonko team from the Kirchdorf parish had arranged for the young African to receive orthopedic treatment at the Pyhrn-Eisenwurzen Clinic in Kirchdorf, where he was fitted with a prosthetic leg. At the farewell party after six months, the young African talked about his experiences in Austria, starting with the first snowball fight of his life, boat trips and his initial fear of needles. He surprised the guests by singing a song himself and by playing drums in the band. Back in Africa, Biko now wants to study journalism.

The long-standing parish partnership between Kirchdorf and Kakonko will not end with Biko’s departure. The next project, the construction of a boarding school, is already in the planning phase. All information on the Kirchdorf-Kakonko parish partnership, donations and sponsorships can be found at www.pfarre-kirchdorf-krems.at

Anyone who would like to support the parish project financially can do so on the Caritas account “Caritas for people in need”: IBAN AT20 3400 0000 0124 5000 BIC RZOOAT2L, purpose: 88025 Parish Kirchdorf-Kakonko Parish Partnership