PRESS RELEASE

Educating Wales and Africa on Disability

This year the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) 2014 focuses on the needs of disabled children and is being supported by Disability in Wales and Africa (DWA), an initiative which encourages Links between Wales and Africa to include disability issues.

Each year the Global Campaign for Education adopts a theme and in 2014 it is Equal Right, Equal Opportunity: Education and Disability. Between May 4th and 10th many thousands of schools, in over 90 countries, will take part during Global Action Week. DWA is keen to mobilise schools and other interested people in Wales to raise the profile of this often forgotten aspect of international development.

In most low and middle income countries, children living with disabilities are more likely to be out of school than any other group. Even if they attend school, disabled children are often less likely to receive the support they need and, therefore, more likely to drop out early. According to the GCE, despite the Millennium Development Goal of Universal Primary Education by 2015, 57 million children still don’t attend school. Of this group it is estimated that 24 million experience disability. African countries are particularly badly affected by this trend.

DWA has a vision of a world where disabled people are full, equal, and participatory members of society. Access to education plays a key role in enabling this vision to be fulfilled. Lack of education means very limited opportunity in employment, or income generation and consequently less likelihood for social inclusion.

Paul Lindoewood, Coordinator of DWA, believes Wales has a golden opportunity next week to make a statement about education and disabled children. “Universal Primary Education will never be achieved until we include disabled children. All too often children who experience disability are out of sight, out of mind and left behind. We need your help to ensure that the resources, ideas, and interest are developed so that such children are able to attend school, with their friends, and are not left at home”. For more information as to what you, or your school, can do visit the website http://www.sendmyfriend.org/take-action/order-teaching-pack/

GCE and DWA are asking as many of us as possible to say to world leaders that they “Send ALL My Friends To School”. Last year DWA organised a ride around Lake Vyrnwy in which 25 riders from four Links took part and raised around £1,000 to “Get Disabled Children to School” in Africa. This year we hope to organise a similar event. However, during the summer term, we want to see every MP and other influential persons being contacted to make them aware of the need and their responsibilities.

For further information please contact:

Paul Lindoewood – Email dwanetwork@gmail.com