CREATING AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN IN AFRICA.

Click this link to register:??https://lnkd.in/dBT3aVfk

"Children are a heritage from the LORD",?the scriptures?say.

But, are we giving every child in Africa the kind of love, care, grooming,??infrastructure, and education that suit their?kind of SPECIAL?

I read this about?Landmark College?in the USA: "Programs are designed to?enable students to identify strengths and learn specific strategies to be successful. Instructors...are experienced in working with?students who learn differently".

The UN`s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 4 concerns Quality and Inclusive Education.?Training and education are the most powerful tools in attaining the SDGs.?The Human Rights Convention 2008 preamble reminds us to “recognize the inherent dignity and worth and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world”. There is overwhelming evidence that Special needs children can perform as well as their peers, or maximise their personal potential, with the right interventions before the age of 5.

It is estimated that at least 6.4% of school-going-age children in Africa have moderate to severe disabilities. ?School enrollment for these children is estimated at no more that 5-10 percent. Most are not able to attend school and many of those in school fail to transition from one educational level to another.?What`s more, the large majority are from very poor, unserved, and underserved communities and rural areas.?They are stigmatized and avoided due to their condition, and are deprived of any form of personal development because their environment is ignorant and not investing enough to understand what they are going through.?People easily accuse witchcraft, considering the children to be cursed.?As a result, they are guaranteed a life of dependence, and will exist as the poorest of the poor.

Marily Agum Gwet is a Ugandan born business executive and mother of a special needs child above 20 years of age.?She has traveled to and lived in different African countries.?In each of the countries, she found it difficult to get the right care and environment for her child to flourish.?In the process, she discovered hers wasn`t a unique story; the set up in Africa was not enabling “Special Children”, as she loves to call them, reach their fullest potential and be prepared to live a fulfilling adult life.?Her new found passion is to make sure her experience is useful to others.?She dreams of an Africa where Special Children get the right care and love, and are empowered to acquire appropriate skills for a self-sustaining and fulfilling life.

Marilyn reached out to Nexus International University (NIU) whose unique model of education enables it to reach and be reached from anywhere in Africa and the world.?NIU is the only private university in Africa that offers all its programs and courses (degree, diploma, professional certificates) online with live virtual lectures.?Students and lecturers meet in NIU`s virtual classrooms from any part of the world.?It is licensed by the Uganda National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), and has so far served learners from more than 21 countries.?NIU wants its students to work and study at the same time in preparation for life after Degree.

The university was set up to maximize access to higher education in Africa where current enrolment rate is below 20% vs. a global average of about 34%.?It has given itself a social mission and responsibility to be a force for good for the continent.?It is leveraging its unique advantage to enable conversations and actions on topics that are foundational to the socioeconomic advancement of the continent.?In 2021 for example, it hosted highly attended webinars on key topics including: `Rural Entrepreneurship in Africa`, `Women Entrepreneurship and Women Leadership in the Digital Era`, and `How Digital and Online will exponentially grow education access in Africa and support sustainable growth`.

NIU has partnered with Marilyn to take the special needs children drive to a continental level and make sure it is given due attention and that actions are taken by all stakeholders.?It will be hosting a webinar on 13 April 2022 with the topic `Creating an enabling environment for special needs children in Africa`.?A very rich, diverse, and experienced panel has been put together to ensure the session is as relevant and action oriented as possible.?There are two mothers who have raised special children on the continent and are ready to share their experiences.?There is an educator who over the years has had to devise innovative ways to empower special children to enable them flourish.?And an occupational therapist with extensive international experience treating special needs children.?All the panelists have lived and/or worked in different countries.?They bring multi-country perspectives to the discussions.

This webinar will be the first in a series of actions.?Other webinars will be organized, and a whole training programme will be deployed to empower parents, teachers, and other caregivers of special children in Africa.

Only through awareness and education can we challenge negative paradigms, prejudice, and discrimination, in order to enable vibrant communities that embrace diversity and equality.?We need to provide enabling environments where special needs children can reach their fullest potential.?There is need for social change.?Join NIU and Marilyn in making this happen!