The “Let’s Show Them Love Public Awareness Campaign for Children with Disabilities in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean” will be officially launched, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities – Thursday, December 3, 2009 with a massive concert in Independence Square, Bridgetown, featuring some of Barbados’ finest entertainers and talented youth with disabilities.
It will feature Soca Queen, Alison Hinds and Troy “Mexican” Arthur, both formerly of Square One; two-time Calypso Monarch, Adrian Clarke; Sheldon Hope, former Road March King, Romeo; Chad “Sir Ruel” Bowen who placed fourth in this year’s Calypso Monarch and he is a former student of the Learning Centre; Janeil Odle, a young poet of the Combermere School who is blind; Miss Karimah Holder who is the singer of the campaign’s theme song “Show Them Love”, plus students of the Irving Wilson School, the Anne Hill School, the Challenor Creative Arts and Training Centre and many more!!!!
The concert is a production of the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, Urban and Rural Development, the National Disabilities Unit and UNICEF (Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean).
The concert is being coordinated by former Calypso Monarch, Mr. John King and campaign founder/ coordinator, Miss Katrina Bend.
This is the first time a major celebration is being held on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, as a result of this regional campaign for children with disabilities.
The “Let’s Show Them Love Public Awareness Campaign” was pre-launched in March 2009, during the Month of the Disabled at the United Nations House, Barbados. Its theme is: “Embrace Children with Disabilities – Let’s Show Them Love”.
Among its aims are:
· To raise the awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly children;
· To improve the lives of children with disabilities;
· Advocating for a society of inclusion which affords children with disabilities equal rights and opportunities in education, health-care, and adequate social systems such as welfare, transportation and facilities with ramps, bathroom facilities and parking;
· Overall, for the entire society to treat children with disabilities with the respect and dignity they deserve.
The patron of the campaign is Dame Olga “Auntie Olga” Lopes-Seale, who has for more than four decades, supported underprivileged children in Barbados and the Caribbean. She is the lady behind the Needy Children’s Fund.