The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
YOWPSUD’s main program of the observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Concordia Primary School includes a session with the kids in the special unit in their free space where they will be given time to express themselves in art. The main aim is to raise awareness and promote the rights and perspectives of persons with disabilities around the world.
According to the convention of the Rights with disabilities and optional protocol article.30 on Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sports (No.2). YOWPSUD is taking appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to have the opportunity to develop and utilize their creative, artistic and intellectual potential, not only for their own benefit but also for the enrichment of society by supporting children from the special unit in Concordia Primary School with curios, materials which will help them come up with different type of designed ornaments, and other designed artworks that can be used on exhibitions and market places.
Since covid-19 strike, the special unit students have had a hard time due to closure of schools. The school provided the space to practice these abilities thus the greatest challenge.
During this day YOWPSUD provided the opportunity for these students to express themselves freely at the same time access information, as part of their rights. YOWPSUD exposed these talents using its online platforms to introduce their products and using the space to market these products.
"One thing that stood out very strongly, is the ability the students they have to learn and pass the skill they have learnt."
Today, Mary Mwachiti and Robin Jambo from Yowpsud, had a privilege to learn how to make different and wrist bangles with the #DifferentlyAbled students in the special unit.
Furaha is a student at Concordia Primary School (Special Unit), coming from a humble background.
With her struggles of life, she is focused in making her life better by learning new ways of coming up with good quality ornaments and her dream is to see her finished products not only to have their way to best exhibition centers but also to bring bread to her plate. Her biggest inspiration her teacher who always believe in her and always train her despite of all the challenges of life she goes through.
Furaha can barely speak and she can speak very well with her curios when she is in her innovation zone. One big challenge she faces day in day out is the distance from home to the school because she has to use "Boda-Boda" to and from school which sometimes the means of transport is an issue on her side.
Meet Francis, a very intelligent student from Concordia Primary School. He is a great artist on bead work and very confident on his ability.
He is one of the male students we interacted with during our visit in their school. One thing that stood out, he is #DifferentlyAble, with the ability to learn and pass the ideas and knowledge he learns to any new person he comes across. He was able to teach one of our colleague in coming up with a bracelet and a pair of earrings.
Challenges that the Students face.
The school is not PWD friendly
In some cases the school administrative could not accommodate some children with critical conditions since they are vulnerable and they need special care
Inadequate space to accommodate students in the special unit
There are 21 students and only one class is available for them, plus during the pandemic the special unit closed down and they can accommodate the students even after the reopening.
Lack of materials to make the work of art possible
The school mostly depend on donors to get specific quality materials for their finished products thus making it hard to embrace their right to education and freedom of expression.
Lack of market for their finished products
This is one of the challenges they face and discourage them at some point because they can not acquire new materials unless they sell off the finished products
Lack of technological facilities
The school is privileged to have some smart children in the special with the ability to use a computer but they have limited access to one simply because they have to share with the mainstream students about 1000+ and they only have one computer classroom.
Lack of Healthy rooms for the special unit
This has been the biggest challenge they face since they are forced to use same toilets with 2500+ students and according to their health status its not recommendable.