UoG Celebrates International People with Disability’s Day Celebrated for the 27th Consecutive year

The University of Gondar on 3 December 2019 organized a day that celebrates the International Day of Person with disabilities. The Directorate for Disability Studies and Services at the University of Gondar in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UoG, the Central Gondar Zone and Gondar Town Labor and Social Affairs office, the Federation of Central Gondar Zone and Gondar Town Person with Disabilities and Gondar Vocational Rehabilitation Center organized the event.

The day has been internationally recognized for the past 28 consecutive years and UoG for its part has celebrated International People with Disabilities Day for 27 of those years. The day’s theme entitled, “Promoting the Participation of People with Disabilities and Their Leadership: Taking Action on the 2030 Development Agenda” brought many audience members and spectators who took part in all of the activities and excitement.

Concerning the day’s event, the Director of the Disability Studies and Services directorate welcomed the guests. Subsequently the President of the University of Gondar Dr. Asrat Atsedeweyn gave an opening address. He expressed that people with disabilities should be able to change their circumstances and that awareness should be given to their cause so that they could become engaged and take part in many areas and sectors.

In addition, Dr. Asrat shared that UoG is doing various things for staff and students who have disabilities. He believes the work and learning environment for those with disabilities is becoming a lot more friendly in recent years and that the future could only bring more progress in that regard.

Some of the activities that were conducted in the event included paper presentations, discussions by AAU’s Dr. Abebe Yehulashet, a presentation on people with disabilities from an International point of view was presented by Mr. Molaling Belay (who is UoG faculty and Queens university PhD candidate), and a heart warming experience sharing talk was presented by Teacher Goytom Haile about his 38 year experience as a person with disability in Ethiopia.

By Samuel Malede| Scholars Program Communications Coordinator