Hope For Future Generation (HFFG), a Ghanaian NGO has launched its “HopePalympics” project at the Senior High Technical School for the Deaf at Mampong-Akuampim in the Eastern Region to mark this year’s International Day of Persons With Disability.
The HopePalympics, is a five-year visionary project aimed at promoting the welfare of Persons with disability.
According to the world Health Organisation report, 360 million people live with disability loss, and out of this number, 32 million are children less than 15 years of age.
The theme for this year’s celebration is, “Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We want.”
Mrs Cecilia Lodonu Senoo, the Executive Director of HFFG said, “The resolve of initiating this project is based on my experiences of sexual and gender based violence and social exclusion that was meted out to a hearing impaired adolescent girl in my village who go infected with HIV.”
She said HFFG intended to pay special attention to persons maginalised groups through an integrated approach that addressed population dynamics, gender equity and equality concerns to reduce their vulnerability.
She explained that the HopePal project placed focus on persons with disability and would raise awareness for government and corporate attention on them. She said funds will also be raised to address the challenging situation of Persons With Disability.
She said the project provided mentorship and integrated health services to students, deepen understanding of the public about the situation of young students at the school whilst appreciating their potential and aptitude to contribute meaningfully to society and learning lessons for scaling up the HopePal mentoring programme in other special school.
Mr Joseph Sam, the Headmaster of the School in a speech read on his behalf expressed gratitude to HFFG for the assistance and called on other organizations to emulate the gesture. He said the school needed for support from various agencies to
As part of the HopePal activities, sporting games was held to unearth talents amongst the PWDs.
December 3, has been designated by United Nations as International Day of Persons with Disabilities to enable governments and organisations to implement measures to improve the life disabled persons all over the world.
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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