Over 500 School Children walked for Inclusion saying We do not need your ‘Wheel Chair’ but a ‘Space’.

(In commemoration of the International Day of the Persons with Disabilities - 3 December)

Engage Disability,

Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment - IDEA

&

St. Ursula Girls High School and Junior College

Over 500 School Children walked for Inclusion saying

We do not need your ‘Wheel Chair’ but a ‘Space’

2015, 15, December, Nagpur. The St. Ursula Girls High School and Junior College is commemorating the International Day for the Persons with Disabilities on Dec 15 joining the Engage Disability a (National Network of the PWDs), Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment (IDEA) a standing forum of National Council of Churches in India, World Vision India (Nagpur), Christian Service Agency and organized a Walkathon with 500 Children from 8 educational institutions including, Seventh Day Adventist Hr. Sec School, Bishop Cotton School in Dharapmpet, Orange City School,  St. Ursula Primary School, Gardener High School,  Bishop Cotton High School - Civil Lines, and St. Ursula Girls High School and St. Ursula Junior College.

This Walkathon aimed to inculcate the values among the children towards ‘Just and Inclusive Society’ and facilitating them to be partners in inclusive society in making and also invite the public to be part in building an inclusive society ‘OF’ all and ‘FOR’ all.

Mrs. Rachna Singh, Principal, St. Ursula Girls High School and Junior College sent her greeting to the student participants saying that, they all have become change agents of the society. And wished them the best to become the channels of change by becoming a changed towards the change.

Rev. Christopher Rajkumar, Executive Secretary, Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation of the National Council of Churches invited the children to look at the disability issue as a justice issue not as a charity issue. Also, he welcomed the children to become partners in the process of building a  ‘Just’,  ‘Accessible’ and ‘Inclusive ‘society  ‘OF’ all and ‘FOR’ all.

Shri, Shrishi Darwekar of SAKSHAM cited a few stories of the excelling persons with disabilities (PWDs) n different fields and made the children to understand that ‘there is ‘ability’ in every ‘disability’ and encouraged the children to accompany the PWDs towards collective success in our lives.

Mr. Susheel Kase of World Vision informed the children about the inclusive learning and inclusive education and encouraged to children to invite and bring all the Children with disability around their neighborhood to the near by school for education and their better future.

 Ms. Sana Murray a fifth standard student of St. Ursula with disability recited a poem on ‘right of a girl child with disability’ and also challenged the care givers by saying ‘ I do not want your ‘wheel chairs’ but a ‘space ‘to keep them’ 

 Ms. Parvathi Joseph the Vice Principal of St. Ursula invited the participants in the journey towards inclusive society and reminded them that, there is a long way to go… so let us walk together hand in hand so that, we could always be together and accompany each other in our journey.

 

The Walkathon, started at 9.30 am from St. Ursula School Campus and covered about 3 KM in the city and returned back to the school. The Children carrying placards saying, education for all, accessible society, Zero discrimination on physical fitness, No Stigmatization and such in Marathi, Hindi and in English.

Ms. Parvathi Joseph Vice-principal, St. Ursula and Ms. Cynthia Shinde of IDEA have coordinated the rally with Mr. Sathia Rabbin Das and Mr. Jeswin Rajan of NCCI and Ms. Anita Thorat,  and Ms. Alka Tayade of St. Ursula.

Ms. Cynthia Shinde,

Facilitator,

NCCI - Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment & Engage Disability

idea.ncci@gmail.com / 0712 - 2561464