Ugandan mother honoured for supporting families of children with disabilities

A Ugandan mother whose child has Down Syndrome is one of six Rotary members from around the world to be honoured as a Rotary People of Action: Champion of Inclusion for educating and nurturing children with intellectual disabilities.

Rosemary Nambooze of Uganda says she realised the lack of social support for children with disabilities and the stigma they were facing.

 She founded the Angel’s Center for Children with Special Needs in 2012, which provides tailored education and therapy services, as well as assistance for caregivers and teachers.

As a member of the Rotary Club of Wakiso, she is also active in supporting disability-inclusive education measures in schools including accessible infrastructure and adaptive curricula and teaching methods.

Her work has impacted over 150 children and 200 vulnerable families of children with intellectual disabilities, including Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism.

Moreover, Nambooze has also been a tireless advocate against “mercy killings”, a practice whereby parents kill their disabled children.

In a statement, Rotary said Nambooze will present her work at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town, South Africa on April 4, with an audience of philanthropists, notables, and Rotary members.

“Every child deserves to live with dignity and to be given the best chance at a bright future,” said Nambooze. “I’m honored to receive this award and I will continue to be a voice for these children and break the silence on disability by assuring they’re recognized as equal members of society. Behind every disability is a human with the potential to flourish.”

Rotary International President Jennifer Jones said: “The actions taken by these Rotary members exemplify our approach to bringing people together to cultivate a more just, open and inclusive world.”

Jennifer noted Rotary members throughout the world are taking action to strengthen and empower historically marginalised and underrepresented communities by improving access to health services, education, economic opportunities, and civic participation.

She added: “We are an organisation that finds common ground in our humanity and in our desire to create lasting change in our communities, the world and in ourselves. Every day, we leverage our members’ diverse perspectives to fight inequalities, foster peace, and address humanitarian challenges across the globe.”