Salmon Supports Charity - Advantage Africa
Thu,17 August 2006
The charity will use Salmon's donation to expand their work among
disabled people in East Africa. It will enable them to work with their
partners, Ngelani Rural Development Centre to build a new unit for
disabled children in the village of Thinu, help advance disabled
peoples rights and start new disability projects in Uganda.
Advantage Africa identifies and supports the ideas and plans of
inspirational people who are determined to overcome poverty and
hardship in the community. By helping to develop their skills and
confidence, these inspirational people then become catalysts for change
and hope in the villages and city slums where they live and work.
Agnes Musembi is one example. Agnes lost her leg at the age of six and
has devoted her life to ensuring that the rights of disabled people are
respected in her district of Kibwezi, Kenya. As a result of her
activism, and unlike other places in Kenya, you will never see disabled
people begging in Kibwezi.
Advantage Africa's work reaches people who are "doubly disadvantaged"
by poverty and the stigma arising from disability or HIV/AIDS. For
example, only 2% of disabled children in Africa attend school because
of inadequate facilities and teachers, together with beliefs that
disabled people are cursed. Advantage Africa is working in three
communities in Kenya to start special needs units within primary
schools, train teachers and combat misunderstanding and prejudice
against children with learning disabilities. As a result, the lives of
children have been transformed; previously excluded, withdrawn and
feared, they are now happy children, who can wash and dress themselves,
help out in the home and socialise with others.
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