Nkomwa Foundation’s timely visits to vulnerable mine communities
Nkomwa Foundation’s timely visits to vulnerable mine communities
August 2, 2023
Choice News Africa Correspondent
Gwanda – Matabeleland South mining areas and also the makeshift dwellings have recently been reached by Nkomwa Foundation Trust, in the organisation’s quest to include everyone with disability in their programs, as it is their mandate as a disability organisation.
NFT recent visits to vulnerables around mining areas. Choice News Africa
The Foundation is currently reaching out to small scale mining and resettlement communities with disability sensitisation trainings, targeting the caregivers, parents as well as general populace in those community.
The thrust of the visits is on disability parenting equipping and information dissemination on disability issues as well as various services available for persons with disabilities in the provinces and the country collectively.
“There is excessive information deficit in marginalised communities, especially within families of children and relatives with disabilities.
Disability itself cuts across all aspects of a child’s life and can have very different implications at different stages in life. It is very important to ensure that the rights of children with disabilities are taken into account in laws, policies, programmes and other interventions in a way that no child is left out.” Said Pick Nkomwa who is also the founder of the NFT.
Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) requires State parties to take all necessary measures to ensure the full enjoyment by children with disabilities of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children.
According to Nkomwa Foundation Trust’s visits outcome, almost all persons with disabilities in rural communities continue to experience exclusion among other barriers. Speaking to Choice Africa, Egnes Dube, and Community Disability Facilitator in Ward 3 of Gwanda rural said,
“There is a lot of work to be done in our communal communities. Persons with disabilities are in dire need and still regarded as objects rather than human beings,” she said.
One parent whose child has albinism, Energy Moyo appreciated the help rendered by Nkomwa Foundation Trust.
He said he was hopeless with his child. He also said that he cannot believe that his child finally got friends who care for him.
“I am grateful with the knowledge and NFT’s outreach that has brought solutions to my problems as a parent for a child with disability. The education received pertaining our child will go a long way in looking after the child and the entire community,” said Moyo.
Madodana Ndlovu who is a parent of a child with clubfoot was also another parent, in denial and could not believe that his child has a disability.
“Angila umtwana onje mina, abantwana bami bonke baright, lokhu angikuzwisisi. Ngahamba egoli umtwana wami eright kodwa ngiphendukile sokunje hayi ngizwa ubuhlungu” said Ndlovu.
NFT’s Pick Nkomwa highlighted on the need of proper implementation of social protection systems.
“Through proper implementation of the CRPD’s provisions, we can spark a social and cultural change, creating a fairer and more empowering community that will contribute positively to the country’s economy growth for years to come. A society that neglects people with disabilities is a society that neglects its own potential,” he said.