Background
Disabilities may arise from several conditions: genetics, birth injuries, accidents, or diseases. Irrespective of what caused it, there is the need to understand what disability is and how it impacts the well-being of people living with disabilities. Unfortunately, little effort has gone into raising awareness on disability in Ghana and people who suffer from various impairments and their families shy away from public gatherings and places, further deepening the stigmatization by society. Most important social interventions like education, equal employment opportunities, access to high-rise buildings, and other public and recreational places are relegated to the background.
In Ghana, because of our sociocultural belief systems, we tend to stigmatize people living with disabilities and their families. Families hide their members and pathetically exclude them from all social gatherings.
The Village of Hope (a project of the Church of Christ), a Ghanaian-based NGO located at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region, in collaboration with the Tim Tebow Foundation in the USA, organized an unprecedented prom night for people with special needs dubbed ‘Night to Shine’.
Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience centered on God’s love for people with special needs aged 14 and older.
Celebrating its maiden in Ghana, the event held on Friday, February 10, 2023, seeks to celebrate its ninth anniversary as thousands from around the world come together to honor those with disabilities and thereafter, it will be an annual event in the country.
Hosting a total of 100 guests with special needs from Dzorwulu Special School, Osu Children’s Home, and New Horizon School at Kobi’s Event Centre, East Legon.
Speaking at the event, Sean O’hare a representative of Tim Tebow Foundation elaborated that the main objective of the Night to Shine in Ghana is to share the love of God with the very vulnerable people in society and use this as an opportunity to raise awareness on the need to support people with disability in our communities. Biased by the normative standards of what normalcy is, our ableist society has viewed disability through the lens of medical theories to the neglect the social well-being and security of people with disabilities.
Thus, there are scanty or no social structures and program in our country and communities, respectively, to make the lives of people with special needs comfortable and fulfilling. A Night to Shine brings back lost hope, lost smiles, lost love, and lost joy to the lives of people with special needs in fulfillment of God’s commandment.
Another major objective of Night to Shine is to increase awareness of the health and social well-being of people with special needs. This aims to reduce the stigmatization associated with people living with disability in general.
Farida Bedwei, a software Engineer at Microsoft and a co-founder of Logiciel (a fin-tech company in Ghana) and as the main guest speaker, encouraged the guests to identify their gifts with the help of their parents and caregivers. She added “When God takes away something from you, He replaces it with something else” and therefore the necessity to identify things they can do best.
Farida also adviced that able-bodied people to make friends with persons with disabilities and motivate them to become the best version of themselves.
Mrs. Helina Mensah, the Director of Special Education, happily graced the event and emphasized that this event does not become just a flash. She however encourage parents and caregivers to be supportive. Be motivated because it’s a very difficult task since that will drive their desire to go all out to provide assistant to persons with disabilities.
Some volunteers couldn’t control their emotions as tears flow from their eyes. Some made a simple statement “IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME”! Giving all to support persons with disabilities, were their promises.
Standards
The organization of Night to Shine occurs worldwide on the same day with the same standards everywhere. To gist, the Tim Tebow Foundation and the Village of Hope shall provide, among others:
A 1:1 volunteer-to-guest ratio to provide every honoured guest (person with special need) with an age-appropriate buddy for the evening.
A grand entrance with red carpet, paparazzi, and rope and stanchions to welcome each honoured guest to the event and celebrate them as the true VIPs.
A flower station, providing corsages for the ladies and boutonnieres for the men.
Hair, makeup, and shoeshine stations offering guests a little extra sparkle for their Night to Shine.
Limousine(s) on site with available professional drivers during the event to offer all guests with special needs an opportunity for a short ride.
Crowns or tiaras for a crowning ceremony to crown each guest a king or queen.
An unforgettable experience of feasting and dancing
And many more.
What does the Village of Hope want to do for people with special needs?
At Village of Hope, we save lives and serve humanity.
Partner with us as we Rescue, Repair, Prepare, and Propel vulnerable children, orphans, street children, abandoned-and-found infants, and children with disability.
