Over 200 disabled kids at the Cardinal Paul Emile Leger National Centre for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (CNRPH) yesterday December 17, 2013 lighted a decorated Christmas Tree at the premises of the centre during an event to commemorate end-of-year festivities.
The event was punctuated with the award of gifts to some handicapped persons in different institutions in the country in a bid to improve their standard of living as well as means of movement.
Speaking during the event, the Deputy Director General of CNRPH, Dr Alexandre Manga said the season is a time for joy and love. While noting that disabled kids hardly understand their state of life, Dr Manga added that they are usually left out of the Christmas show and they feel neglected and deprived from enjoying the joy of the season.
As such, CNRPH organised the Christmas Tree event which was characterised by the handing of gifts to kids in the centre, the sharing of a common meal amongst the kids and dignitaries as well as the donation of wheelchairs and tricycles to some handicapped people from other centres so as to facilitate their movement around town.
During the event, some disabled university students were handed money for school fees. Those who had finished professional training but did not have money to establish their own business were given money to do so.
