by Chris Agbo
The Engraced Ones prayer support and Advocacy Initiative on Sunday 8th December, 2019 held a children party for children with intellectual disabilities, other children, their parents, teachers and guardians to mark end of the year in Abuja.
The Founder of the group, Mrs. Biby Yinkere speaking at the event, read out all the NGO have achieved in the course of the year such as collaboration with Jesus Kids Foundation for a successful Parents gathering in Abuja, collaboration with IKE foundation for an awareness walk for autism, successful outings in several radio and TV shows, children program which gave birth to Engraced Clubs, the Club embarks on a school tour to sensitize the students and their teachers about children with special needs, the NGO went further to recruit some of these children and they are now strong advocates for the children with special needs, collaboration with National Orientation Agency for an awareness walk and a press conference about children with special needs. The NGO collaborated with so many other organizations and individuals to organize a an awareness/sensitization walk to mark the World Cerebral Palsy Day, there was also 6weeks intensive training of the parents of these children on what they should know about the condition of their children, the NGO also used the social media to create a lot of awareness of the special needs, the NGO took the advocacy to Bayelsa state, engaged the government, took to advocacy to churches in the state. The NGO during summer, organized inclusive summer school where the children with special needs learnt a lot about general life. Remarkably in September, The NGO set up a school for children with special needs. She said that by the glory of God, The NGO achieved all that it set out to achieve and even more than the expectation. She appreciated all other organizations and individuals who supported in different ways, financially, technically and morally. She prayed that God will reward them. She said that the NGO will not rest until they achieve a world whereby all the hope of these children with intellectual disabilities and their parents are restored. A situation whereby the education of these children will no longer be a tough task to their parents.
Interestingly the children with special needs performed fashion parade, dances to thrill the crowd, there is a lot of talents abound in the children.
The highlight of the event was the award presentation to those who have contributed immensely to the success story of the Engraced ones. There were different categories of the award and they were based on the support form the individual rendered to the growth of the group.
There were close to 50 recipients of these awards of excellence and interestingly, three persons with disabilities, Liman Usman(The Presenter AIT Will and Zeal), Omotunde Ellen Thompson(Founder, Centre for Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities) and Agbo Chris Obiora(The Publisher, The Qualitative Magazine(a disability advocacy magazine)) were among which was based on the support they have giving to the Engraced ones for the good of their compatriots Children with disabilities.
You will recall that The Engraced ones is an NGO, prayer support and advocacy initiative with the main purpose of rallying round one another as parents of these children and to sensitize the public about their condition while advocating for better health, education and good living condition of these vulnerable children.
