Born Short Living Tall, a local NGO, has embarked on a one million 80 thousand Kwacha three year campaign dubbed Seventeen Eighteen aimed at raising awareness on the rights of people who are differently abled.

Organization Executive Director Ntalasha Chisha says this campaign will endeavor to empower the underprivileged with knowledge and skills to help them start their own businesses so that they can become self-reliant and create jobs for others.

Pastor Chisha says it is a shame to see disabled people marginalized in society because they don’t know their rights.

“Most disabled people are on wheelchairs begging on the streets and this is why we have started this project to help such individuals. This project will officially come to force in April 2019,” he said.

He says the K1, 080, 000 project also aims at helping the country attain the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.

“It is worth noting that building a viable National vision begins with making these deliberate steps. This project is available for funding and we will forge partnerships with Members of Parliament so that every constituency benefits from this program,” he said.

Pastor Chisha observes the need to supplement Government efforts when it comes to empowerment because government has a lot of other programmes to attend to.

He adds that without the volunteer support of NGOs the development agenda of the nation cannot be realized.

“Under this project, the organization will provide free entrepreneurship trainings to the beneficiaries as well as agri-business empowerment. Our goal is to make sure the beneficiaries start agribusinesses within the duration of the campaign,” he stated.