Speaking at the annual Rolls & Walk Disability Awareness Campaign organised by the Remembering Reuel Foundation (RRF) in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages, Kouamin said children with disabilities deserve equal access to education, healthcare, protection and opportunities to realise their dreams.
The event, held under the theme “Everyone Has a Way,” drew hundreds of schoolchildren, teachers, disability advocates and government officials who marched from Africell Headquarters to Bakoteh Traffic Lights in a show of solidarity for inclusive education and equal opportunities for children with disabilities.
Kouamin stressed that creating an enabling environment is a shared responsibility, urging all stakeholders to move beyond words and take practical steps to ensure no child is left behind because of disability.
“Every child has the right to thrive and fulfill his or her potential. It is our collective duty to remove the obstacles that continue to limit opportunities for children living with disabilities,” he said.
The awareness campaign also marked the official launch of a new initiative aimed at bridging gaps in support services for children with disabilities and their families, ensuring they no longer face their challenges alone.
Founder of the Remembering Reuel Foundation, Sera E. Amadou Gillen, said the organisation was born out of personal tragedy following the death of her son, Reuel, whose life continues to inspire advocacy for children with disabilities across The Gambia.
She said Reuel’s story, together with the experiences of many other children who lost their lives due to illness and inadequate support, strengthened her resolve to campaign for a society where every child is valued regardless of ability.
“Every child belongs in our schools, our homes and our communities. Inclusion must become a way of life where we see the person before the disability because everyone has a way,” she declared.
Representing the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Principal Education Officer Aida Badjie Colley reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening inclusive education through improved teacher training, expanded assistive technologies and better systems for tracking the progress of learners with disabilities.
She said initiatives such as awareness walks, student dialogues, writing competitions and recreational activities are helping to break stereotypes while promoting acceptance and equal participation.
Describing the annual Rolls & Walk campaign as a growing national movement, Colley said inclusion is not an act of charity but a fundamental human right that demands sustained commitment from every sector of society.
The event concluded with renewed calls for stronger collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and communities to build a Gambia where every child, regardless of disability, has an equal opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.
