The Chairman for the National Commission for Persons with Disability James Tiawo Cullen has on Saturday 9th November, 2019 called on Persons With Pisabilities (PWD) to fight against sympathy.
He made these statements at turning of the soil for a Mordern Training Center for PWDs at Rural Vocational Training Institution (RTI) in Kenema.
In his statement the Chairman said PWD should fight against making themselves irrelevant in society as they are part of national development let’s fight against sympathy it serves as demotivating factor for personal growth” he added.
He pleaded with PWDs to embrace personal hygiene as it will help to change the perception of the general public on persons with disabilities.
He said the Commission will champion the course and work with the Ministry of Education to ensure that learning materials are available at the Center.
The Commission Chairman said even though NCPD is financially constrained but they will dig deep into the meagre fund to help the center with some of the needed learning materials.
Mr. James Cullen pleaded with the disabled to serve as Ambassadors for the Commission to get PWDs out of the street in the quest to live a dignified life.
He encouraged all and sundry to embrace the project and help to promote its sustainability.
NCPD’s Chairman suggested that the Training Center be named the “Symbol of Hope”as it will help to transform the lives of Persons with disabilities.
Chairperson for the program Assistant Director East Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs Ms. Jeneba Koroma said the project is being sponsored by Family United in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone to refurbish a Training Center for PWDs. She thanked the Chairman of the Commission and his team for making it to the program even with the short notice, “its shows how the Commission respects Disability issues and want to see great changes in the sector” she affirmed.
In his welcome address Paramount Chief of Kenema District said the project will be tied to the establishment of the University in the East as Kenema is known for its excellence in achieving success in technical training.
The representative of Family United Mohammed S. Jalloh said he’s beamed with emotion due to the fact that citizens out of the country are contributing to change the lives of persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone. He said the project will create an impact in the district and leave an everlasting impression in the minds of PWD.
He revealed that the Training Center will be well constructed, sophisticated and 100% accessible.
Jalloh said the satisfaction of the project on the part of United Family is to see PWD capacitated mentally and become self reliance in the nearest future. He pleaded with the beneficiaries to make use of the project when it would have been completed in order for it to transform their lives and contribute to human development.
Head of Administration RTI Anafie Sowa said the project has contributed to the training of over seven groups in various skills. Sowa revealed that the Center runs an inclusive education program to ensure that visually impaired pupils are integrated with other children.
He however lamented that the perimeter is creating rooms for thieves to cart away with some equipment.
He said they are constrained with learning materials for visually impaired pupils and called on the Commission to intervene in that area; “we want accessible materials like recoreders, braillers and white cane” he pleaded.
He said the project is for all PWDs and they should take responsibility to develop the Center.
Turning the Soil for the refurbishment of the Technical Training Center Andrew Fatoma said the project is in line with the president’s vision to transform the lives of PWDs.
He hoped that the project will benefit PWDs and contribute to development in the region.
