Differently-abled children benefitting from 5-day skills training camp

Over 25 differently-abled children are engaged in a five-day skills training camp hosted by the Guyana Council for Persons with Disabilities.
The annual event saw the partnership of Young Voices Guyana, Access Guyana and various other organisations within the disability community.
The children were all introduced to a number of concepts and activities. They were able to visit a fun park, sessions were held teaching them to build self-esteem, and they were thought disability etiquette, public speaking and were made aware of sexual abuse.
However, a newly introduced session will see the children being introduced to STEM robotics, a partnership with the Ministry of Telecommunications. This is in preparation for the STEM clubs which the Guyana Council for Persons with Disabilities is presently in the process of establishing in a number of the special schools in Guyana.
Other activities planned include swimming, a visit to MovieTowne and a special visit will be paid to Times Media Group Inc.
Executive Member of the Guyana Society for the Blind, Ganesh Singh said that the annual programme is important since it enables the children to be better integrated into society.
“Because these children with disabilities, as a result of lack of interaction and socialisation and the discrimination they face, their self-esteem is at a very low level so we did some sessions, it cannot be done in one day but we are trying to work with them and to also letting them be aware of what is sexual abuse, how to deal with instances of abuse because there are cases with children with disabilities that are being abused and a lot of it is not reported” Singh explained.
Singh called on parents with differently-abled children to positively impact their children by sending them out to the camp. According to him, sheltering these children can hinder them in several ways in the future.
“There are many parents who are overprotective of their children and it is to the detriment of that child, it affects their development, their independence and their rehabilitation. I encourage you to be supportive of your children but do not be overprotective and do not fear society. Allow them to face their challenges, support them when they have to face any hurdles or barriers, be by their sides but allow them to go through life as independent beings. If you are overprotective and you shelter them, when they get older, they lack the skills to cope” Singh advised.
Guyana Times caught up with a number of the children who were elated to share their experiences.
Twelve-year-old Danielle Booker encouraged other differently-abled children to come out to the camp, stating “I would tell them to come because they would learn more and to tell them that they are not different from us and that all of us are one, even though you may have a disability, you are perfect because if God had made everyone the same it would not have been good” she encouraged.
“I liked everything, especially yesterday, we went to the fun park so that was fun and we had a lady come in and she spoke to us about public speaking and that is something that I personally needed” Faith, another camper stated.
The event is expected to run until Sunday at the Unit for the Blind, Albert Street, Georgetown.