Uplifting those with Down syndrome
Instead of being shunned, those with Down syndrome should be celebrated and embraced.
Ester Kamati
The third annual Down Syndrome Day was celebrated on Saturday at St George's Diocesan College, which provided an atmosphere of love and acceptance.
The event was organised by the Down Syndrome Association of Namibia (DSAN) and was sponsored by the FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust, which was represented by Revonia Kahivere.
She shared the value of information when caring for a person with Down syndrome and commended the DSAN for its commitment to sharing this information.
First National Bank (FNB) Namibia, through the FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust, sponsored the event to the tune of N$150 000.
Music and fun activities such as an egg and spoon race, a jumping castle and soccer games, among others, kept energy levels up, as the children enjoyed the day.
Edda Bohn, acting executive director for formal education, said she was honored to celebrate the event under the global theme ‘Leaving no one behind’, which brought everyone together to raise awareness about the needs and attributes of children with the genetic condition.
Bohn added that events such as these are encouraged, as they break the isolation that exists between society and children with Down syndrome.
Inspiration
Kahivere mentioned iconic individuals who are inspiring the differently-abled and continue who continue to do great things.
“Madeline Stuart, an 18-year-old fashion model is paving the way for people with disabilities by becoming one of the few models with Down syndrome to walk the runway during New York Fashion Week,” Kahivere said.
She also mentioned Namasiku van der Linden, a Namibian born with Down syndrome in 2007. At a young age, she has showcased her fighting spirit and does not give up. “She falls, she gets up. Even if it means falling seven times and getting up eight times.”
Kahivere also mentioned Ella Thomas, an 11-year-old pupil at Môreson School in Windhoek, who she said has a remarkable personality. Thomas and Van der Linden both took in the recent Miss Face of Namibia competition, which showed other children with Down syndrome that they too can take in activities such as beauty pageants, among others.
Raising a child with Down syndrome
“The biggest responsibility we have to our children is to love them,” said Nangula Amoonga, Ella’s mother.
She explained that children often radiate the energy given off by their parents.
“This condition does not mean anything or carry any weight unless given that prerogative.”
She added that Down syndrome does not make children different and parents should love their kids.
Equal treatment
Amoonga explained that she treated all nine children under her care the same and didn’t detach her daughter from the other children or make her feel any different from them. She regularly takes her along to weddings and other outings and never hides or isolates her. “I didn’t separate her from others.”
Support
She explained that she corrects her daughter when she is wrong and uses the same disciplinary actions she would on the other children.
She also reflected on the day she gave birth to Ella. She said the doctor was hesitant to tell her that her daughter had Down syndrome, which Amoonga didn’t see as a major challenge. “Even if I gave birth to a Down syndrome [child] I don’t really care,” she said, adding that Ella loves attention and she gave her as much attention as the others and taught her valuable skills while she was still young.
Confidence and development
“From birth I didn’t teach her that she is different; that’s why she also knows that she is normal. In the house I also taught the others not to separate her.”
She further explained that Ella’s siblings were never told or encouraged to go out and play without her.
They either all went or all stayed at home.
“Ella likes to dance. She’s a little bit shy, but I taught her not to be shy.”
She added that Ella is a free spirit and doesn’t need her mom to be around all the time.
Bullying
Amoonga shared that in their neighborhood some people tell the other children not to play with her daughter, because she is “not like them”.
Amoonga constantly reassures Ella’s peers that she is no different from them, and even if their parents tell them otherwise, they should respond: “Ella is just a child like me.”
Cultural norms
Franklin Newman, Ella’s brother, shared that cultural norms link Down syndrome to “bad luck” or “being bewitched”.
“Events like this is what we don’t have, especially in communities that are faced with stuff like this.
He explained his sister had developed better speech due to her interactions with fully-abled individuals.
“I would like to see people with Down syndrome integrated into mainstream circles, because ultimately when they finish school, they would have to get into the actual work market, he added.
“These kinds of children have extra abilities that we do not have. I think they need to be celebrated and embraced.”
The third annual Down Syndrome Day was celebrated on Saturday at St George's Diocesan College, which provided an atmosphere of love and acceptance.
The event was organised by the Down Syndrome Association of Namibia (DSAN) and was sponsored by the FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust, which was represented by Revonia Kahivere.
She shared the value of information when caring for a person with Down syndrome and commended the DSAN for its commitment to sharing this information.
First National Bank (FNB) Namibia, through the FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust, sponsored the event to the tune of N$150 000.
Music and fun activities such as an egg and spoon race, a jumping castle and soccer games, among others, kept energy levels up, as the children enjoyed the day.
Edda Bohn, acting executive director for formal education, said she was honored to celebrate the event under the global theme ‘Leaving no one behind’, which brought everyone together to raise awareness about the needs and attributes of children with the genetic condition.
Bohn added that events such as these are encouraged, as they break the isolation that exists between society and children with Down syndrome.
Inspiration
Kahivere mentioned iconic individuals who are inspiring the differently-abled and continue who continue to do great things.
“Madeline Stuart, an 18-year-old fashion model is paving the way for people with disabilities by becoming one of the few models with Down syndrome to walk the runway during New York Fashion Week,” Kahivere said.
She also mentioned Namasiku van der Linden, a Namibian born with Down syndrome in 2007. At a young age, she has showcased her fighting spirit and does not give up. “She falls, she gets up. Even if it means falling seven times and getting up eight times.”
Kahivere also mentioned Ella Thomas, an 11-year-old pupil at Môreson School in Windhoek, who she said has a remarkable personality. Thomas and Van der Linden both took in the recent Miss Face of Namibia competition, which showed other children with Down syndrome that they too can take in activities such as beauty pageants, among others.
Raising a child with Down syndrome
“The biggest responsibility we have to our children is to love them,” said Nangula Amoonga, Ella’s mother.
She explained that children often radiate the energy given off by their parents.
“This condition does not mean anything or carry any weight unless given that prerogative.”
She added that Down syndrome does not make children different and parents should love their kids.
Equal treatment
Amoonga explained that she treated all nine children under her care the same and didn’t detach her daughter from the other children or make her feel any different from them. She regularly takes her along to weddings and other outings and never hides or isolates her. “I didn’t separate her from others.”
Support
She explained that she corrects her daughter when she is wrong and uses the same disciplinary actions she would on the other children.
She also reflected on the day she gave birth to Ella. She said the doctor was hesitant to tell her that her daughter had Down syndrome, which Amoonga didn’t see as a major challenge. “Even if I gave birth to a Down syndrome [child] I don’t really care,” she said, adding that Ella loves attention and she gave her as much attention as the others and taught her valuable skills while she was still young.
Confidence and development
“From birth I didn’t teach her that she is different; that’s why she also knows that she is normal. In the house I also taught the others not to separate her.”
She further explained that Ella’s siblings were never told or encouraged to go out and play without her.
They either all went or all stayed at home.
“Ella likes to dance. She’s a little bit shy, but I taught her not to be shy.”
She added that Ella is a free spirit and doesn’t need her mom to be around all the time.
Bullying
Amoonga shared that in their neighborhood some people tell the other children not to play with her daughter, because she is “not like them”.
Amoonga constantly reassures Ella’s peers that she is no different from them, and even if their parents tell them otherwise, they should respond: “Ella is just a child like me.”
Cultural norms
Franklin Newman, Ella’s brother, shared that cultural norms link Down syndrome to “bad luck” or “being bewitched”.
“Events like this is what we don’t have, especially in communities that are faced with stuff like this.
He explained his sister had developed better speech due to her interactions with fully-abled individuals.
“I would like to see people with Down syndrome integrated into mainstream circles, because ultimately when they finish school, they would have to get into the actual work market, he added.
“These kinds of children have extra abilities that we do not have. I think they need to be celebrated and embraced.”
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