Rwanda Bureau of Services and Development (RBSD) in partnership with National Council of Persons with Disability and other stakeholders launched the first day on anti- bagging campaign with the theme: “Say No to Mendicancy. Disability is Not Inabilityâ€. The event took place on 5th September 2013 where around 200 persons with disabilities gathered in NPC Gymnasiun at Remera sharing testimonies about wrongdoing of begging and sharing success stories of what they achieved after they left out begging.
The exhibition of articles including knitted and tailored clothes, shoes, weaving baskets and many other handcrafts fabricated by cooperatives of ex-street beggars marked the event.
Note that Rwanda Bureau of Service Development in its project Handicaps Making Difference has trained 70 persons with disabilities who used to be street beggars. They learned sewing, knitting, fabrication of new shoes and handcraft.
During his testimony, Ntirenganya said that his life has changed marvelously after starting to fabricate shoes. He no longer needs begging. His message was emphasized by the sketch performed by ex-street beggars where they urged their colleagues to leave behind begging behavior and join cooperatives in order to strive for their self-reliance.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of State in charge of Community Development and Social affairs in MINALOC, the Executive Secretary of National Council of Persons with Disabilities; Mr Emmanuel Ndayisaba encouraged persons with disabilities to form cooperatives so that they could create income generating activities. He admitted that a large number of the persons with disabilities still face unemployment including those who are skilled, but begging is not the solution. “Although we don’t have statistics, but employed people with disabilities are still very fewâ€.
He reminded those who still with mind of sitting on streets and beg that they disrespect the laws, because it’s illegal. “Remember these are vital skills for poverty reduction economic and sustainable development: disability doesn’t mean inability, use your brain to fight povertyâ€
Reported by:
Nyirabugenimana Sylvie
Disability Friendly Communication Officer/NCPD