3 Bodies Provide Educational Materials To Disabled Children

Monday October 05, 2009
By Winston Tamakloe, Ho

The Volta Regional branch of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), Ghana and the Voice of People With Disabilities in Ghana, Ho are supporting governments’ efforts to provide school uniforms and education materials to children with disabilities.

YMCA Glasgow, Scotland, is funding the project to provide the items to disability institutions and training centres in the Volta Region.

The objective of the project initiated this year is to enable children with disabilities in the region to participate in educational activities at training centres through the provision of education materials.

YMCA in Glasgow has made available an initial grant of GH¢1,400 in response to numerous problems people with disabilities face, especially children.

The pilot project, which has been initiated in five districts, namely, Ho, Adaklu, Hohoe, North and South Tongu is expected to benefit at least 1000 children to enable them to look beyond their disabilities and pursue their dreams in life.

Presenting the items to the children here, Mr Francis Asong, Director of Voice, noted that the association’s development of partnerships to give international exposure and further strengthen it to advance the rights and needs of People With Disabilities.

“We are supporting and assisting government’s efforts in providing school uniforms and other educational materials to children with disabilities to pursue education and improve their socio-economic status of living standards,” he stressed.

Mr Asong explained that the project is an attempt to respond to the educational needs of people with disability and serve as a fore runner to the government’s future direction of providing uniforms to school children.

Mr Isaac Kodobisah, Ho Municipal Chief Executive, lauded the effort by the organisations to support government’s policies, programmes and interventions.

He expressed the hope that “the project would expose the potential and talents of children with disabilities to compete favourably with their able bodied counterparts in education.”

Mr Kodobisah advised the leadership of fragmented disabled organisations to unite so as to access the two per cent common fund towards income generation activities and desist from begging in the streets.

“You should not allow your disability to relegate you to the background in society but use it toward the transformation of society,” he said.

Ms Francisca Afenyede, vice chairperson of the YMCA Council, Volta, urged the leadership of the various disability organisations to bury their differences and unite to access funding from development partners to contribute to nation building.

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