Youths with Disabilities not left out in Activities marking Day of African Child
Children and youths with disabilities in Bamenda, Cameroon took active part in activities marking this year’s Day of the African Child celebrated annually on June 16. Celebrations this year took place under the theme, “The Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment”.
Activities in Bamenda took place at the esplanade of the St. Joseph Hall at the Big Mankon Cathedral under the auspices of the Youth Outreach Program (YOP), which organized the maiden edition of the Youth Festival of Arts and Culture, bringing together several youth groups to showcase their telents in a stiff competition in arts, songs, dance and fashion parade to portray the cultural colours of the Northwest region.
The competition fetched the first three winners in each category mouth watery prizes ranging from 200.000fcfa, 150,000fcfa and 100.000fcfa respectively. YOP Coordinator, Omer Songwe promised to increase the prizes and the categories next year in order to give the youth of the region a wider platform to showcase their talents.
Omer Songwe expressed gratitude to the CBC Health Services through its Socio Economic Empowerment of People with Disabilities, SEEPD, program for galvanizing youth with disabilities to participate in the event. The SEEPD program also provided a sign language interpreter at the event, much to the amazement and appreciation of the organizers. Led by Mrs. Boyo Maurine, Child Protection Officer for SEEPD, the youths with diverse forms of disabilities advocated for the protection of the rights of children with disabilities in songs and narrations.
The representative of the Northwest Regional Delegate of Arts and Culture applauded the initiative of YOP to valorize the rich culture of the region. The Regional Delegate equally promised to increase his support to the second edition of the Youth Festival of Arts and Culture next year. He called on other stakeholders to come on board in engaging the youth who are struggling to come out of the shackles of the crisis rocking the region.
On this day, June 16, 1976, over a hundred children were murdered by armed police officers in Soweto, South Africa during a demonstration against educational segregation, apartheid and colonisation. Thousands were injured. About 10 000 – 20 000 marched in what became known as the Soweto Uprising. June 16 became the Youth Day in South Africa and later validated by the AU to be commemorated each year as the Day of the African Child.