LÜDERITZ MAYOR CALLS FOR DISABILITY INCLUSION - nbc

The Mayor of Lüderitz, Brigitte Fredericks, has called for a more inclusive Namibia, where persons with disabilities are empowered and fully integrated into society. She made this appeal during the opening of the National Disability Week in Lüderitz. National Disability Week has officially kicked off under the theme "Building an Inclusive Namibia through Empowerment, Innovation, Accessibility, and Equal Participation". The week focuses on empowering persons with disabilities through activities like youth training, financial skills, business support, and sports aimed at promoting full inclusion in society. "National Disability Week offers us an invaluable opportunity to celebrate achievements, reflect on challenges and renew our commitment to building a more inclusive Namibia. It reminds us that the responsibility for inclusion belongs to all of us: government, the private sector, civil society, families and communities alike," says Mayor Fredericks. The board member of the National Disability Council of Namibia (NDCN), Lawrence Kaimu, said that progress has been made in improving the lives of persons with disabilities but added more work is needed to overcome remaining barriers. Therefore, as we reflect on our progress, it is important to recognise the essential role that communities play in respecting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that persons with disabilities are active participants in their communities and they have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed." NBC News spoke to some participants to find out what the week-long event means to them and what they hope to gain from it. "Coming from a young person and having children in mind means that we do live in a world that is inclusive, and most importantly it is considerate to people that in the past didn't have a voice; they could not speak for themselves," says participant Paulina Fillemon. Hendrik Van Der Westhuizen, another participant, adds, "We also talk about the theme that is the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all matters concerning development and the ranks of persons with disabilities in a society for all, and this is also a message to others to not ignore but to include persons with disabilities in all matters concerning development in the Kharas Region." The National Disability Week will run until the 11th of June.