Let the children come and play with others

Afrika Tikkun, a non-governmental organisation which works closely with Alex philanthropist Linda Twala’s Phuthaditjaba Centre, has urged parents and families of disabled children not to hide them behind closed doors, but to allow them to come out and play with others.

This was the overall message at the recent empowerment workshop for disabled children and their families in Alexandra held at the centre and attended by more than 200 parents and family members of disabled children and the children themselves.

Phuthaditjaba Centre’s programme co-ordinator Celesile Siziba said the main aim of the workshop was to empower disabled children, their parents and family members about the rights of the disabled child.

“We have often experienced situations where the parents and family members hide their disabled children and often do not allow them to come out of the house to play with other children for fear of victimisation and being called all sorts of names,” Siziba said.

“We’re here today to say all that this is a thing of the past. Disabled children are as good as their abled counterparts and have the same rights too and should be allowed to enjoy life just like any other child.”

She said the objective of the workshop was to build the self-confidence of the disabled child, especially on the side of their parents and family members. “Those are the people whose confidence we should capacitate first so that they, in turn, empower this child and allow the child to join his or her peers on the streets or field of play in the community.”

Besides the boosting of much-needed confidence in parents and family members of disabled children, Siziba said the workshop also tackled the rights of the disabled child in terms of access to justice, health, education and other social amenities.

Siziba said that from time to time, Afrika Tikkun runs educational workshops and training sessions for the children and their families which seek to create an understanding and a robust desire to ensure the disabled child is well protected within the law, justice system and the education front as well.

“We’re currently fighting the segregation of disabled children in a bid to find an amicable arrangement where they can be allowed to attend mainstream schools as opposed to being put in institutions of their own,” Siziba said.

“We’re also involved in community outreach programmes where we seek to educate the community at large about disabled people and children and the need to integrate them fully within communities.

“The time of hiding them and keeping them behind closed doors are over. Let’s be proud of them as they are human beings as well just like anybody else.”

At the end of the empowerment workshop, a self-help group was formed where the parents and family members had a platform to exchange notes, ideas and challenges and seek solutions at the same time.

Details: Celesile Siziba 073 689 9458.