December 3rd: PBF celebrates the Day of Persons with Disability
Disability inclusion is an essential condition to upholding human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security. It is also central to the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind. An active and deliberate participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-COVID-19 world is a necessity. The global crisis of COVID-19 is deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing the extent of exclusion and highlighting that work on disability inclusion is imperative. People with disabilities are some of the most excluded groups in our society and are among the hardest hit in this crisis in terms of fatalities.
Even under normal circumstances, persons with disabilities are less likely to access health care, education, employment and to participate in the community. An integrated approach is required to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind.
Mohammed Mushaga
The commitment to realizing the rights of persons with disabilities is not only a matter of justice; it is an investment in a common future. For this reason, PBF continues to prioritize persons living with various disabilities. Mohammed who lives with severe disabilty, having lost both hands in a fire accident when he was 8 years old is our Student Trustee in Ethiopia. He is pursuing his Masters degree at the University of Addis Ababa and is very happy to be given the responsibility. Having lived in the streets and shunned by the community because of his severe disability, Moha is an outstanding example of the importance inclusion.
He says that his self confidence has really increased since his appointment to look out for others unlike the past when he was looked st with pity.
PBF has gone an extra mile to reintegrate Mohammed back to his family who abandoned him in hospital due to his burns’, not because they did not love him but because they had no infrastructure and capacity to take care of him. We are building him a house in his village next to his elder sister.
Apart from Mohammed, PBF supports several persons living with disabilty including students who would not be able to be in school.
Resilience
The hardest part of living with disability in developing nations and marginalized societies is staying resilient despite obstacles!
There are some people in the world who can help alleviate this problem, but they make small but significant contributions! The eternal glory of PBF is immersed in the cup of human equality! This cup of help and blessing allows people to be served equally!
On this International Day of persons with disabilities PBF people in Lalibela and elsewhere, PBF reaffirms its commitment to ensuring pride, dignity, and respect for all with disabilities. PBF builds back better and addresses the challenges in the community of this world. With strong faith and commitment to people with disabilities, PBF has the opportunity to do its significant part!
Abebe Zewdu and Dan Amolo for PBF