Ghana Chapter of the Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation (VFFF), has organised a New Year party for Children with special needs as part of the foundation’s contribution to helping alleviate the challenges of the less privileged in the society with a focus on the healthy wellbeing of the Ghanaian; old or young.
The Children’s Party which was held on Friday, January 13, 2023, brought together Children from the New Horizon Special School, the Dzorwulu Special School and the Osu Children’s Home all in Accra.
The Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation is a Not-for-Profit Organization founded by a 108 year old Queen Viola Ford Fletcher – one of the three survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race massacre, working to advance sustainable systems for the care of people, families’ communities, societies, nations, and our shared environments globally.
Addressing the gathering, Vice President of the Foundation, HRM Eze Dr Amb Chukwudi Ihenetu, who is also the Paramount King of the Igbo Community in Ghana, explained that People Living with Disability must be treated with dignity as it is no fault of theirs that they ound themselves in that condition.
He further stated that the Foundation will continue to engage the various special schools to understand their felt needs and support appropriately.
“This is just to get to know you and moving forward we shall see what can be done to benefit us all,” he noted.
He also handed over some toiletries and educational materials to the children from the three institutions as their New Year’s gifts.
The New Horizon Special School was founded by Mrs Salome François in 1972. The School provides day school education for children between the ages of 6 and 18 years old, and vocational training and employment for adults, who have intellectual disability.
Their aim is to not only provide a well-rounded education for children and adults with special needs, in a safe and caring environment, but also to develop each child’s potential to the full so that he or she can lead a productive and satisfying life.
The Dzorwulu Special School is a school specially set up for children with autism in Ghana. Most parents with such children find it difficult to handle them alone, apart from the stigmatization of the society towards such children. The school was set up to give relief to parents of such children by providing them with care, treatment, training, and, by helping to explore their hidden talents.
The Osu Children’s Home under the Department of Social Welfare which is presently under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to care for orphans and vulnerable children in Ghana.
The New Year Party was supported by Indomie Ghana, Shoprite and Le Country Water. Highlights of the party included various performances from the Children, presentation of gift items to the best performer award, among others.
By Derick Botsyoe ||GhanaNews TV