On Saturday 3rd October, 2020, The Engraced Ones Prayer Support and Advocacy Initiative organized their 3rd annual Down syndrome and cerebral palsy prayer/advocacy walk. The awareness Walk which was to mark the world cerebral palsy day took off from LEA Primary School, Jikwoyi, Abuja.
The Parents, Caregivers, Professionals, Advocates, Friends, and Media walked through the media roads of Jikwoyi distributing fliers and educating the public about cerebral palsy and downsyndrome.
The founder and the leader of the group,Mrs Biby Yinkere while talking to the press calls for more support from the government and the general public because it is too expensive to cater for children with down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other intellectual disabilities. She also called on well meaning individuals to sponsor at least a child with intellectual disability in school, she informed that it can only cost One hundred and fifty thousand naira to pay school fees for a year for child with intellectual disability.
She urge the public to be more proactive in encouragement with disability issues especially issues concerning children with disabilities because they have potential like every other child. All they need is our support and care.
She urge the parents of engraced children referring to children with intellectual disabilities to be stronger and more committed towards events and efforts that geared towards welfare of the children.
She expressed her appreciate towards all the attendees for finding time to grace the occasion.
The representative of National Orientation (NOA) Chinwe Ikaraoha (Assistant Director, Special Duties, National Orientation Agency FCT Directorate in her remark said that it is important that NOA identify with a project like this. Even though the government may not commit money, they are always ready to provide technical support or use their medium to add their voice to the subject. She reassured government commitment towards ensuring that PWDs rights are protected.
Engraced Ones is prayer support and advocacy initiative established in April, 2015 to bring together parents of children with intellectual disabilities and other adults who love these children for the purpose of encouraging parents of the children, educate the public about the condition and advocate for their access to healthcare services, education and other rights. The group as their name implies refer to these children living with down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other intellectual disabilities as Engraced Ones.
Annual Prayer/advocacy walk to mark The World Cerebral Palsy Day is the group major activities, the edition took place last year 2018 when the group walked from Apo under Bridge to Gudu Market, 2019 edition, the group walked from Karu Market to LEA Primary School Jikwoyi where their School of Grace was launched.
Cerebral Palsy Day is a social movement and a day to celebrate and affirm the lives of the 17 million people living with cerebral palsy (CP). The project was launched in 6th of October, 2012 by Cerebral Palsy Alliance (Australia) and United Cerebral Palsy (USA). It is supported by over 450 cerebral palsy service organizations, universities, parent groups, research institutions, student groups, schools and children’s hospitals from 65 countries.
