By EricJames Ochigbo
The Sterling Inclusive Education and Development Initiative (SIEDI) has reaffirmed commitment to advancing inclusive support systems that prioritise the mental health, safety, and resilience of Persons With Disabilities (PWD) and champions of PWD rights.
The Executive Director of SIEDI, Ms Patience Agbamu gave the assurance at the pioneer
inclusive Psychosocial Support Session (PSS) for PWD and disability inclusion advocates in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PSS is aided by Strengthening Protection and Resilience of Disability Rights Advocates in Nigeria, a project sponsored by Protection International, a non-profit organisation that supports human rights defenders.
Agbamu said that the session was designed to promote mental well-being, peer support, and resilience among participants.
According to her, wellness-focused activities such as interactive games, a cardio dance workout, and guided physical exercises were deployed to relief stress and foster positive energy among participants.
“SIEDI remains committed to advancing inclusive support systems that prioritise the mental health, safety, and resilience of PWD and those championing their rights.
“Under this six months pilot project, the session is going to be monthly till June, so we have three more left under this project.
“SIEDI hopes to reach 10 direct beneficiaries who are passionate advocates for disability rights with and without disabilities, and 60 indirect beneficiaries, comprising of advocates, families of advocates and community members ,” she said.
In her remarks, Programme Manager, Disability Advancement Initiative, Ms Nworah Amaka urged PWDs not be silent when their rights are trampled upon.
She said that PWD must voice out and insist to be treated right and fare in the face of discrimination at all times irrespective of the circumstances or who is listening.
“Do not be silent, I do not believe in silence, because by remaining silent, denies the offender the opportunity to learn how to treat PWDs.
“In silence, you would have thought the person anything, she goes home at peace thinking it’s the normal thing and how PWD should be treated and you a PWD goes home bitter because the matter was not addressed,” she said.
Some of the participants who spoke to newsmen on the sideline of the event expressed their satisfaction and commended the organisers of the session.
The Programme Manager, Technology Beyond Disability Initiative, Mr Alexander Okoroafor said that the session created a platform for experience sharing among several PWD rights advocates.
He said that he was looking forward to more of the sessions saying that it improved on the work of human rights advocates especially for PWDs.
Also speaking, the Programme Manager, Neil Life Foundation, Ms Catherine Akor said that the exercises at the session were stress relieving.
She said that she had an opportunity to share her feelings and struggles with like minds who really understood what it meant to be PWD rights defender.
Akor called on SIEDi to organise more of such sessions and expand the scope to further advance the efforts towards an inclusive society.
