African disability conference designed to address stigma holds in south London on April 25!

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NIGERIAN disability non-profit organisation Star Children Initiative will be holding a one-day seminar in London on April 25 to discuss the challenges facing disabled Africans in the diaspora and at home.

To hold at the Stockwell Centre in south London, the seminar will be addressed by speakers from several African countries including Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID) has also been invited to see if it can help fund any new initiatives.

Star Children Initiative chief executive Grace Alexander, said: “Star Children Initiative is a not-for-profit organisation that provides practical and sustainable solutions to the challenges to disabled children and their primary care givers within our communities in UK and in Africa, especially in Nigeria. We also work in coalition with private and public sectors, government, individuals, medical professionals and educators.  

“We also support parents of disabled children, especially women are who facing economic and social isolation due to their caring responsibilities. Our conference is being organised to address the plight of disabled children/adults and their primary care-givers in Africa and to sensitise the communities, the government and the world-at-large about the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Africa.”

She added that apart from inviting major stakeholders like African community leaders in the UK, it was also important to invite DFID because of the need to channel international support towards the needs of disabled  persons in Africa. Among the community leaders attending will be the former speaker of Hackney Susan Fajana-Thomas, the former mayor of Lambeth Adedamola Aminu, Richard Taylor and the former chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK Chief Bimbo Afolayan. 

Starting at 10.30am in the morning, the conference titled  Poverty & Disability: An Overview in African Context also hopes to discuss ways to alleviate poverty and hunger across the continent. In Africa, disability normally means destitution and poverty as people living with disabilities are considered uneducable and unemployable.

Ms Alexander said all those wishing to attend should come to the Stockwell Centre on Studley Road or check the website www.starchildreninitiative.org for more details. Alternatively, they can ring 07459 150081,

E-mail: starchildreninitiative@gmail.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/StarChildrenINT

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Starchildreninitiative.

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