CITIZENS have been urged to abandon the harmful practice of keeping children with disabilities hidden at home and instead allow them access to education and social support, including vocational training, to help them avoid dependency.
This advice was given yesterday by Tuli Makongo, the parent of Hermani Kangalawe, a disabled youth who has benefited from training provided by the Foxes Community and Wildlife Conservation and the Youth Agency Mufindi (YAM) project under the Mufindi District Council in Iringa.
The YAM project was launched in 2021 and is set to run for four years, concluding in 2024. It is funded by the Government of Finland through its Diaconess Institute, in collaboration with the Government of Tanzania, the Mufindi District Council, and Foxes Community and Wildlife Conservation.
Tuli expressed deep gratitude to the YAM project and Foxes Community and Wildlife Conservation for enrolling her child in various training programs. She stated that Hermani has now acquired woodcarving skills and is actively assisting his parents with several household tasks, making him a valuable contributor to the family.
"His condition has significantly improved since joining the YAM project. He is now productive, has learned woodcarving, and has even brought home some of his crafted products. We sincerely appreciate the teachers and the Foxes organization for their support," she said.
"Before joining the project, he spent most of his time at home with no place to go and was unable to work or engage in farming. However, since being enrolled, he has become more active, collaborates well with his parents and teachers, and continues to acquire useful skills."
She further expressed her gratitude to Foxes Community and Wildlife Conservation for their assistance and stated her intention to support her son in further developing his chosen craft so that he can generate income and support his family.
"Parents should not hide their children at home. Instead, they should take them to centers where they can receive various services, learn new skills, and become self-reliant, ultimately helping their families as well."
She also urged the government to continue identifying and rescuing children living on the streets or hidden away by their parents, emphasizing that keeping a child confined at home only worsens their disability and prevents them from gaining knowledge or learning any trade.
"If the government takes in children with disabilities, they will receive crucial support, including vocational training and entrepreneurial skills, enabling them to become independent and even assist their parents financially."
"Now, my son has become a great help at home. He chops firewood, fetches water, and washes clothes, which significantly eases my responsibilities as a parent," she added.
Hermani Kangalawe is one of 134 disabled youths currently benefiting from the YAM project.
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