The foundation For the civic rights of persons with disabilities FCRPD on Saturday 11^th May, 2024, successfully organized a training on human guide and ethics in media advocacy for it’s members. The training was practically cantered on building the capacities of volunteers with realistic skills and ideas on how to guide or support persons with disabilities when the need arise at anytime or anywhere.

This helps in the realization and strengthening our goals on providing human guides for PWDs. The training was not just Centred on human guide training, but also on other essential Topics such as ethics in media advocacy, importance and ethics in volunteerism and other skills deemed necessary in the field of advocacy.

Mr Samba Jaiteh, facilitator and founder of the Organization trained the participants on both theological and practical methodologies to apply when assisting any person with disability. This includes the Dos  and dons as well as right approaches to use when offering assistance to PWDs.

Morally, they were lectured on approach manners and How to comport themselves as volunteers when helping in the  service of humanity. The use of polite words was triumphed to the hears of the volunteers as a core moral value to upheld to at all cost.

Furthermore, the volunteers were also sensitised on ethics in media advocacy. This training has capacitate volunteers with sound knowledge on how to abide by the media ethics and principles when advocating in the global village, verbally or in written statement.

many self perpetuated advocates that  haven’t gone through formal training on ethics in media reporting usually cause many confusion in the media fraternity today. These unethical approaches results to many incriminating themselves in media sins of ; defamation, slander, misinformation and libel, which has its own penalties if one is accused, sued of or sentenced for.

Volunteers were clearly oriented about the provisions of the national laws that guaranteed freedom of speech in section 25, 34 and 35 in the 1997 constitution of the Gambia which totally spelled out the rights of person with disabilities and firmly condemns any discrimination acts against any person with disability.

During the interaction session, it was shared that most  advocates are using the media to enrich and popularise themselves through the name of advocating for the rights of PWDs. This is really uncalled for.

The training was concluded with critical equations of the government of The Gambia disregard or devalued of person with disabilities. Whereby person with disability are not given the opportunity to partake in governance issues such as being appointed in high governmental or even private sectors official positions for inclusivity.

The volunteers gave recommendations for the appointment of  person with disabilities in the cabinet, legislature etc. who will continuously advocate for their rights and wellbeing.

All public structures should be build in a manner that, it would be accessible to all, irrespective of your health status.

The participants were feed with great information and experience on how to be better at what they do.

Please we are seeking for assistance from all those concerned  about the wellbeing of PWDs to support us with all means being it financially with grants or connections on how to get such to help us continue to champion our goals.  Any help rendered will really be appreciated.

Join us in this noble cause by following,  sharing, liking and suggesting the page to your network.

Thank you all

In the Service of persons with Disabilities

We Remain FCRPD.