More Opportunities for the Disabled

It has been revealed to this press that a popular local Non Governmental Organization, known as Dorothy Springer Trust, in Sierra Leone, has in its recent meeting disclosed to journalists that there are more opportunities in store for the disabled and that those opportunities, they believe, will help the Government of Sierra Leone and its development partners in the post-Ebola recovery strategy in the country. (Photo: Mustapha Bai Atila, Disabled Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs)

Dr. Abdulai Dumbuya is the Chief Executive Officer of Dorothy Springer Trust in Sierra Leone. During the meeting, he disclosed that his group was legally established to empower the disabled with basic skills in Information Technology (IT), employment creation, internet and business services (ICT), training and advocacy, among other core functions.

He further disclosed that his group recently concluded plans for the disabled to publicly launch a program on digital literacy and numeracy, which they believe will give knowledge in better learning of English Language and Mathematics among other learning areas.

“We are determined to bring hope to people who feel marginalized in the community”, he said, adding that efforts by his group will be made to complement the activities of other groups in building equal rights and opportunities to the ordinary Sierra Leonean.

Dr. Dumbuya further revealed that people with disability would be trained and capacitated by identified Information Technology specialists and that qualified disabled students would be given the opportunity to be more meaningful in their communities.

“Empowering the disabled is expected to bring fruits and relevance into the developmental process in the country,” Dr. Dumbuya said, adding that the appointment of Mustapha Bai Atila as Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs by President Koroma clearly showed that the disabled could be of great use in nation building.

He encouraged everyone to emulate the unique leadership skills of Dr. Ernest Bai Korma for the good of Sierra Leone.

The Chief Executive Officer further revealed that his group was aided by a disabled working class that was knowledgeable in Information Technology (IT) and that they pledged their service to the group to help bring the desired results in their dreams for the disabled in Sierra Leone.

He further disclosed that a basic salary of Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Leones (Le750, 000.00) was agreed upon for the trainers as a means of encouraging them do their job.

Dr. Dumbuya informed that forty (40) persons with disability had been trained in Information Technology and reported that ninety percent (90%) of those persons were engaged in the public service and other reputable organizations.

He added that Sierra Leone was among other developing nations of the world that were expected to empower the vulnerable, especially people living with disability.

By Sedia Gberie

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