South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Resilience Organization, a youth-led and gender-responsive body, has taken steps to restore dignity by donating a mobility device to a teenage girl who dropped out of school two years ago due to mobility challenges.
Aweye James, a 16-year-old primary school girl, expressed that receiving the wheelchair is a significant breakthrough in the local organisation’s initiative to promote an inclusive society and support individuals with disabilities.
James mentioned that some activities, including attending school, can be undertaken by people with disabilities. However, the lack of wheelchairs hinders the mobility of persons with disabilities, preventing them from participating in various activities.
“I am excited; the wheelchair signifies progress. I am now ready to start engaging in community events. I was not attending school or church due to mobility challenges, but I will resume school and join other peer groups,” said James.
Kevin Abalo, the Executive Director of the Resilience Organisation, stated that the wheelchair was delivered to the adolescent girl to help her participate in everyday activities organised by the community.
“Resilience has handed over a wheelchair to an adolescent girl living with a disability in Don Bosco camp. The main purpose is to help her access places such as school, church, and other community events,” Abalo said.
“Previously, the teenage girl was not attending school or church, especially during the rainy season. The wheelchair provides her with the opportunity to engage socially within the community,” she added.
In February 2024, South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and its optional protocol, alongside three other human rights conventions.
The endorsement of the UNCRPD instils confidence and hope in persons with disabilities across South Sudan, affirming that the government is committed to promoting their rights and equal opportunities, as well as ensuring their access to services and basic needs.
