Some five persons living with disabilities have been awarded scholarships by the Global Forum for the Defence of the Less Privileged (GFDLP) in partnership with the Pan-African Institute for Development in West Africa (PAID-WA).
These scholarships were granted following a meeting between the Executive Director of GFDLP, Mr. Akoh Baudouin Ngah who is also the Chairman of the program and the Regional Director of PAID-WA in a scheme known as PAID-WA/GFDLP Inclusive Education Scholarship Program.
The students who won the grant for the 2016/2017 academic year are Evon Ejema Arung for MSc in Strategic Human Resource Management, Nonga Pauline Atilang-BSc in Entrepreneurship and Management, Noble Amik Elvis-Higher Technical Diploma in Development Studies (HTDDS), Elvis Meayango OpondeMSc in Peace, Conflict Resolution and International Resolutions, Achuhnjui Winston Eta- BSc. Gender, Migration and Refugee Studies.
This scholarship program for inclusive education is part of an initiative to assist persons living with disabilities in Africa accomplish their dreams and also feel privileged. It is also the process of strengthening the capacity of the educational system to reach out to all learners.
Worth noting is that, persons living with disabilities still suffer discrimination and injustice either by the educational system or from employers. In fact persons with disabilities face barriers that restrict them from participating in the society on an equal basis.
GFDLP is a Non-Governmental Human Rights Organization, having as one of its fundamental objectives to fight against injustice and discrimination of persons living with disabilities. Support is equally needed from partners and well wishers in the form of walking aids (clutches and wheelchairs), and other school materials.
This organization is also out to fight for women’s rights, right to health, children’s rights, environmental rights, rights of indigenous communities, rights of detainees, fight against trafficking in persons and election monitoring. Apart from the initiative to assist persons living with disabilities, GFDLP has also indulged in other issues such as the campaign against Hepatitis B virus in orphanages around Buea.
Also, the Bonakanda Water Project is on the pipeline as a means to help indigenous communities. In addition to these is the fight against the transmission of viral diseases during birth in rural communities.
