adminCathrine Biswick Herald Reporter
A NUMBER of schools enrolling children with disabilities are exhibiting at the Harare Agricultural Show where they are showcasing the children’s skills and talents in various forms of arts and learning experiences. Speaking at their exhibition stand on Wednesday, ZimCare Trust administrator Mr Farai Chiwonga said children with disabilities who have been taught weaving and pottery have found life easy for them as they are able to earn some income.
“We are trying to make our children to be more resourceful and this has helped a lot of children as they have been able to do self-sustaining jobs after we trained them,” he said.
“Various institutions will display their profiles with attendants at hand to explain to the people how they work with children with disabilities. Some institutions like Danhiko, Munashe Special School, ZimCare Schools and Emerald Hill are showcasing what the children do in visual arts.”
The Disability Living Conditions Survey published in 2003 stated that 29 percent of children with disability (34 percent female and 22 percent male) never attended school, in comparison with 10 percent of non-disabled children (12 percent female and eight percent male).
Efforts to revive dedicated services for children living with disabilities include a national cash transfer programme benefiting more than 30 000 of the poorest and most vulnerable families, 60 percent of which include people with disabilities.
The schools enrolling children with disabilities like Copota School of the Blind in Masvingo offer practical lessons for the children in hand crafts that can sold on both local and international markets.
When they leave school, such pupils are able to establish their own workshops if they receive enough funding.
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