By Abass Jalloh
In a bid to empower 170 children and youngsters with disabilities, the Dorothy Springer Trust (DST) has joined One Family People (OFP) through support from Lillian Foundation in providing assistive technology devices, learning materials, and home care items, to the young people.
Presentation of the items which took place on Wednesday December 14 at the Freetown Cheshire Home, Cline Town in Freetown, is the last quarterly assistance for 2022.
The children, accompanied by parents and guardians, received hearing aids, wheelchairs, and clutches. The other materials include bags, sets of uniforms and shoes, exercise books and personal hygiene kits. They were also assisted with transportation fare to aid their commuting.
Physiotherapists from World Hope International trained the people accompanying the kids on exercises and rehabilitation skills and how to take care of the youngsters while at home. It seemed important because, according to the trainers, some parents might not be able to visit the hospital for these skills.
When they normally run the children empowerment program, it is not just to support the children but also to give them the opportunity to become equal members of society, noted by the Chief Executive Officer of DST, Dr. Abdulai Dumbuya said they support the children to imbibe in them that sense of equality in the society .
The Chair Lady of the Parents Support Group, Sobie Bangura, thanked DST and partners for the services they provide for their disabled children.
“Some people will refer to our children as demons, witches, but we thank God for what they (DST) have been doing because if it was not for them, we would not be having these children at this time or even thinking of getting them to school,” she said, and narrated how some of the fathers of these children usually abandon them due to their conditions.
Member of Parliament, Muniru Lansana, representing Constituency 121, gave a motivational speech to the children and their parents and thanked the charities for their interventions.
Representatives from OFP, Lillian Foundation, the Ministry of Social Welfare, and other partners present made brief statements.
DST is an organization which focuses on transforming lives of people with disabilities through information and communication technologies, innovation and care.
Copyright © 2022 Politico (16/12/22)
