By Jones Anlimah
Children with special needs in the Volta Regional capital, Ho, have been celebrated in grand style at a maiden edition of “Night to Shine” event, aimed at promoting inclusion and restoring dignity to persons living with disabilities.
The event, organised by the House of Love Christian Centre in partnership with other stakeholders, formed part of a global initiative held annually on February 13 to honour children and persons with special needs.
In many communities, issues concerning the well-being of children with disabilities are often relegated to the background. Due to stigma and societal pressure, some families keep such children indoors, limiting their participation in social activities.
But at the Night to Shine celebration in Ho, the narrative was one of visibility, love and empowerment.
Female children were treated like queens — their make-up professionally done, photographed and crowned with tiaras. The boys were equally honoured with crowns. Both male and female participants were served meals and presented with gifts.
The General Overseer of House of Love Christian Centre, Rev. Lovelace Tetteh, said the initiative was designed to demonstrate love and encourage families to bring their children into the public space.
“We want to really show love to the disabled or the people with special needs because their parents at times don’t bring them out. They feel it’s a shame or disgrace for them to bring them out so they always keep them indoors,” he stated.
Rev. Tetteh added that the programme seeks to help society recognise the abilities of children with special needs. “We just bring this one to make sure that they shine out. It’s a night we are making them to shine… to make sure that the whole world gets to know who they are, what they can do,” he said.
The Volta Regional Director of Social Welfare, Mrs. Stella Mawusi Mawutor, described the collaboration between the church and state institutions as a significant step toward inclusion.
“This programme is a unique programme, very special, because we have seen collaboration between the private sector, which is the church, and then the state institutions… to celebrate them and make people understand that they are not objects of pity,” she noted.
Mrs. Mawutor stressed that children with disabilities possess unique abilities that must be nurtured rather than ignored. She urged parents not to hide their children due to fear of stigma. “Don’t stigmatise them, don’t be discouraged, bring them out. There are people who are ready to support you… You are not alone,” she encouraged.
According to the organisers, the Night to Shine initiative will be sustained annually to ensure that children with special needs in municipality are recognised, supported and fully integrated into society.
