He demonstrates that disability is not inability!
Emmanuel Festo puts finishing touches to one of
his portraits, as captured at UTSS Summer Camp in Mwanza Region late
last year. (Photo: Emmanuel Kwitema, UTSS)
Together with the disability caused by his assailants, he suffers poor vision owing to his genetic condition, forcing him to rely on reading gears like dome or having the text kept a few inches from his face.
Now 12 years old, Emmanuel is among people with albinism (PWA) who have gone ahead to prove that his disability is not inability.
He is today, not only among the top performers in his class, but also a budding artist, despite lacking hands that are in fact the crucial limbs for the job.
Emmanuel who left behind three sisters and four brothers at his parents’ home in Biharamulo, Kagera, studies and stays at Mugeza Mseto Boarding School, also in Biharamulo because it was not safe to go back to his home village
This reporter was in Mwanza Region, northern part of Tanzania last year to attend the first-ever Summer Camp 2013 organised by Under The Same Sun (UTSS) for students with albinism where he met Emmanuel.
He was among 150 pupils who attended the first-ever Summer Camp 2013 at Jelly’s English Medium Primary School in Ilemela District, Mwanza Region.
Emmanuel participated fully in drama, English class, singing, playing different games and of course his favourite pastime - drawing. He was among the best five pupils in drawing.
Without limbs, Emmanuel deftly wielded his pencil and drawing brush to astound me with amazing images of people and scenes!
Not only did Emmanuel draw some of the best images, he also proved to people attending the camp how he is now able to write with his remaining left arm and maimed right hand after undergoing a series of surgeries.
His schoolteacher, Marciale Barongo says Emmanuel usually does well in the school exams. He is among the top performers in his class, though when he joined the school he had communication barrier.
Barongo says he noticed that Emmanuel had drawing skills, because he would remain behind in class sketching instead of going out for a short break. “He was always busy drawing people, animals, motor vehicles and all such kind of stuff,” he recalls.
Emmanuel says he likes drawing because he feels relaxed especially when people admire his work. He started learning the skill when he joined Amani Primary School in 2009. “During that time when I was in Standard One I used to draw or make my sketches on the ground with my fellow pupils,” he recalls, adding: “I remember they used to laugh at my work. I think it must have been very bad, but now I have improved,” he concludes.
“When I am grown up I would like to be one of the famous artists in the country. I am told it is a good job and it pays a lot of money,” Emmanuel told this reporter and insisted that he thinks God has plans for him, to become a fine artist.
Gadi Ramadhan founder of Koko Ten Art Centre who is also a trainer says Emmanuel was an amazing pupil. He said despite his disability but he can wield his drawing pencils as if he has no disability. “The boy is talented. He needs help, and he needs assistance from the government, NGOs or religious institutions to make him realise his dream,” says Gadi.
Gadi says he was with Emmanuel for 10 days of the Summer Camp and came to realise he had a good potential in drawing and what he needed is support.
Canada’s UTSS Founder and CEO Peter Ash in his of Summer Camp 2013 closing speech told the guest of honour and other invited guests that his dream has finally been realised because the children are now confident and can explain themselves in front of the public unlike when he first came to Tanzania in 2008, when the killings of persons with albinism was at a peak.
He says … “I have a dream that one day in Tanzania, people with albinism will take their rightful place throughout every level of society, and that the days of discrimination against persons with albinism will be a faint memory!”
Pastor Brad Sumner, one of the Canadian volunteers and head of the Summer Camp said during the camp they have discovered unique abilities of the students.
The team has been encouraging the students with albinism to develop and improve their talents. He said some pupils had amazing talents in drama, music, art, athletics, sports, and in English language.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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