A Wheelchair That Changes Everything: Cub by Participant Assistive Products for Kids in Zambia

Imagine a world where children with mobility challenges can navigate dirt roads, play outside with friends, and join family meals without being left behind. This once seemed impossible for many families living in Zambia. However, today, there's a company making this dream a reality.

Participant Assistive Products offers an exceptional wheelchair called the Cub, a rugged, all-terrain chair designed specifically for children. It thrives on uneven ground, helps tackle what many Zambian children face each day, and gives them freedom, independence, and joy.

In this guide, we’ll explain:

• Who is Participant Assistive Products?

• What makes the Cub wheelchair special?

• Why is Cub ideal for children who need postural support?

• Where and how to access it?

• Advice for parents and caregivers

Let’s dive in.

Who Is Participant Assistive Products?

 Founded in 2018, Participant is a social enterprise dedicated to making high-quality, durable assistive devices accessible and affordable for people in middle-income and low-income countries worldwide.

We are building products co-designed with the disability community, tested in real environments, and praised globally. Our Cub wheelchair won multiple awards, such as the Audience Choice Award at the 2021 Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America and the 2024 ASME iShow Award.

Now, we have launched services and distribution operations in Zambia, bringing Cub to local families in need.

Meet Cub: A Wheelchair Built for Rough Roads and Growing Children

 The Cub wheelchair is designed to support children across many terrains and needs:

• All-terrain ready: Cub handles dirt roads, sand, grass, and uneven compound paths with ease. Its rugged design lets kids move freely outside.

• Transportable and adjustable: Cub can fold, is portable, offers adjustable seating and footrests, and is also built to grow with a child over time.

• Clinically sound: Co-created with therapists and users, Cub provides proper posture support while resisting wear and tear.

• Affordable through social impact pricing: Frequently offered under reduced pricing for NGOs and low‑income communities, making it more accessible in Zambia.

The Cub wheelchair is suitable for children with mobility impairments that limit or prevent independent walking. This includes children with physical disabilities such as s, cerebral palsy lower-limb paralysis, muscular dystrophy, limb loss, and mobility limitations resulting from injury,or illness, . 

Why Is Cub Ideal for Zambian Children?

Handles Real Zambian Terrain: Unlike standard wheelchairs that break or get stuck in sand, Cub is built for pathways often found in rural and peri‑urban areas of Zambia, gravel roads, muddy compounds, uneven school courtyards, and village paths.

Tailored for Growing Kids: Cub allows seat adjustments (width, depth), wheel upgrades, footrest changes, and head or trunk supports. It's meant to grow with the child, reducing the need to replace it frequently for kids who are still developing.

Safe and Supportive: Cub includes tilt and recline options and postural supports to manage discomfort, prevent pressure sores, and promote proper alignment for children with diverse conditions like cerebral palsy or spina bifida.

Social Impact and Affordability: Participant offers Social Impact Pricing to NGOs, donors, and distributors serving vulnerable communities, which reduces costs significantly compared to conventional pediatric chairs.

What Features Make Cub Stand Out?

  Let’s break down the key features that make Cub a smart choice:

Adjustable Posture Support

• Seat depth and width adapt over time.

• Adjustable backrest angle and height.

• Optional headrests and lateral supports are available for better posture and comfort.

All‑Terrain Wheels

All-Terrain wheel is a wheel that helps Cub to maneuver easily on rough surfaces, loose soil, and grass.

Upgrade of Rear Wheels

The Cub wheelchair is supplied with 16″ wheels by default. However, upgrade kits are available with 24″ wheels for users who can self-propel.

• Quick-release rear wheels make it easier to transport or store.

Portable and Durable

• Starting weight is about 13kg  (29 Ibs) light enough for children to push, yet sturdy enough for daily use outdoors.

• Built with maintenance in mind: uses bicycle-style rims so tires can be replaced in local shops.

Accessories and Upgrades

• Activity trays for school or play.

• Anti-tippers for safety.

• Adjustable footrests, armrests, cushions, and tool kits are included to support assembly and repair.

Accessing Cub in Zambia

Local Availability via Participant Zambia:  Participant has a Zambia-specific website and is actively raising awareness among families, NGOs, and schools.

You can:

• Request pricing and availability.

• Arrange consultation and fitting sessions.

• Learn about partnership programs 

Partnering with Local NGOs and Clinics: Participant works with organizations like UNICEF and local rehabilitation centers to distribute mobility aids such as wheelchairs and relies on partnerships to reach remote families.

Fit and Follow-Up Are Key: Zambia’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) recommends that every wheelchair, including Cub, be fitted by a trained professional and followed up for maintenance and adjustment support.

Why Cub is a Game-Changer in Zambia

• Inclusion in education:  Children can finally attend school with peers instead of staying at home.

• Community participation:  They can join sports, church, and community gatherings.

• Health advantages:  Proper seating prevents sores and improves posture.

• Longevity and value: Cub adjusts as the child grows, reducing frequent replacements.

• Empowerment: A wheelchair becomes a tool that enables independence and self-confidence.

Freedom Is Within Reach

Imagine a Zambian child using Cub to move independently across dirt roads to school, joining lessons, playing with friends, and returning home without relying on someone else. That possibility now exists.

If you’re a Zambian parent or caregiver, Cub by Participant Assistive Products offers new hope. It’s the first wheelchair child-sized, rugged, adjustable, and affordable, designed to work in real-life environments like Zambia.

This is more than a product. It’s a step towards dignity, inclusion, and mobility, a tool that transforms a child’s world.

Cub is not just a chair, it’s a gateway. When mobility becomes possible, participation, learning, and joy follow.

Share this article with other families and organizations. Let’s ensure every child in Zambia who needs Cub can get one. 

Click here to find out more about Participant