STUDENTS with disabilities at the Open Doors Centre will now be included in the President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) programme, as a continuation of the government’s aim to facilitate the inclusivity of all citizens.
This was established by Executive Officer of PYARG, Alistair Collins, at the centre for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in ‘C’ Field Sophia on Friday, January 26.
The programme will see the students participating in exciting after-school activities such as martial arts, swimming, football, cricket, dance, drama and community service, all tailored to their abilities.
Collins told the media that disability centres as well as remote areas, once limited by resources, under new management can now be exposed to the Award which also seeks to tackle social, economic and psychological issues.
“All of us are not the same and we have to be able to respond to those with different needs and those who are differently abled in our society,” Collins stated. “The measure of a society is how we treat those who we would consider to be the weakest among us.”
The students are set to begin the programme as soon as in the next two weeks and will have the chance to choose from the three levels of the Award: Gold, 18 months; Silver, 12 months and Bronze, six months.
In addition, the PYARG Executive Officer says he admires the vision of Minister of Social Cohesion, George Norton, who demonstrates a passion for the inclusivity of all citizens, especially those in remote areas of the country.
“The programme would not be just limited to this narrow coast and just those reachable areas…we’ve had to also look at…fairness and equity,” Collins said. “We are privileged to be living in this time when we can have leaders with a heart and compassion that say ‘Even if it’s five in areas that are remote, they can also experience what the thousands and hundreds in Georgetown can experience.’”
Collins says that the programme is not a competitive one and as such, each individual who seeks to improve his or her personal standards, despite disability, can do so without fear of discrimination or prejudice.
According to Teresina O’Connell, a parent who came to the event all the way from Chateau Margot, the undertaking will provide an opportunity for her daughter, who suffers from epilepsy, to receive some much-needed exercise.
“I think it’s a good initiative,” commented O’Connell, “I’m happy that they have programmes like this for the children.”
Meanwhile, Manager of the Open Door Centre, Arthur Lewis, remarked: “This is one of the boldest steps that have been taken over the years to get our persons with disabilities, who are youths, [to]…contribute.”
Lewis believes that persons with disabilities should be given every opportunity to become assets to society and should be allowed to engage in all activities, simply because they have the potential to produce works of their own.
“If we want to build their self-esteem, this is one of the ways forward. They will become assets in our society instead of liabilities,” Lewis said.
This, however, is not easy. One of the challenges the institution faced over the past years was a lack of job placements for students for the Electronics/Electrical Installation skill course, due to discrimination from a number of businesses.
As a result, the centre was forced to drop the course but will, in its stead, launch a new Cosmetology programme in April, which will also see the males receiving training in barbering.
“Too many companies, organisations, they discriminate against persons with disabilities,” the manager lamented. “They [businesses] don’t want to bear the same weight… if they know it [craft, carpentry or garment work] is done by someone with a disability, they won’t want to pay the same price. That’s what we want to cut out.”
Another issue he indicated was media houses which he says are not placing enough emphasis on the activities of persons with disabilities. However, if done correctly, the exposure can help to create awareness of the potential of PWDs.
The Open Door Centre is the only of its kind which offers technical and vocational training in Information Technology, Garment Construction and Carpentry/Joinery to persons with disabilities, in order to facilitate an inclusive society.
There are presently 31 students between the ages of 16-45 at the institution who possess a speech, hearing, physical or learning disability.
The PYARG is a flagship programme of the government’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, which was launched in Guyana in 1998.
It receives its funding from the government and previously conducted similar ventures of inclusivity at the Gifted Hands School for Special Children.
