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First Lady celebrates In’t Day of Persons with Disabilities with schoolchildren

Dec 4, 2015, 10:28 AM | Article By: Isatou Senghore-Njie

First Lady Madam Zineb Yahya Jammeh yesterday joined school children to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities, at a ceremony held at the SOS Children’s Village grounds in Bakoteh.

The theme of this year’s celebration is: “Inclusion matters - access and empowerment of people of all abilities.”

The participating schools included SOS Children’s Village, Physically Disabled Children, Gambia Association of Learning Difficulties, Children with Albinoism, Govi School, St. John’s School for the Deaf and Home of Children with Disabilities.

In her remarks, the first lady said: “This year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities reminds us that development can only be sustainable when it is equitable and inclusive.

“I call on all of us to break barriers and open doors of opportunities for all persons with disabilities.”

During the celebration, the first lady had interaction with the children on reading other key messages “such as great writers have come from people who had no eyesight, famous musicians have been made from the blind and society is better with us in it, among others.”

Speaking at the ceremony, Fanta Bai Secka, Director of Social Welfare, thanked the first lady for celebrating the day with the school children.

Oumie Taal, Director of SOS Children’s Village, in her welcome remarks, also thanked the first lady for her usual show of care for school children.