Humanities
Per. 6 and 7 Chaeli Mycroft
Ms. Podorsek
29 Oct. 2012
“I see it as my gift that I can share the message to the world, that disabled people are still people, who have the same needs and the same rights.” In the year 2011, 17 year old Michaeli Mycroft, also known as Chaeli, was chosen as winner of the year’s Children’s International Peace Prize. Chaeli was born with cerebral palsy, meaning the use of her arms and legs are limited, causing her to be bound to the wheelchair for her entire life. When she was 9 years old, she decided that she wanted a motorized wheelchair, therefore she, her sister, and friends started a project to raise money for it, later becoming The Chaeli Campaign. The Chaeli Campaign now focuses on helping children with disabilities under the age of 18. Chaeli is fighting for the rights and hope of disabled children.
Chaeli fights for opportunities for disabled children. This includes therapies, education, counseling, assistive devices, sports, arts, as well as support youth development. Chaeli believes strongly that disabled children should have just the same opportunities as any other to succeed in life, in what they want to do or be. “It is important to me that children with disabilities are given all opportunities in life to succeed and I think that’s the most important focus of the Chaeli Campaign.” Chaeli acknowledges the importance of the abilities of disabled children and that they are no less than any other children. They show how she notices that disabled children can also think of amazing plans and carry them through if they were given the chance. These disabled children aren’t given the opportunity to express what they want or can do, and there for needs help. “...people with disabilities are the minority. The minority is hardly listened to and what makes it more difficult is that a large part of the minority is unable to voice their opinions due to their disabilities.” Because of the lack of attention ordinary people have for the disabled ones, Chaeli finds that she needs to fight for these people so that they’re voices are heard and opportunities are given to them.
Along with opportunities, Chaeli believes that things can’t be entirely possible if there were no hope. Chaeli was able to progress on in her own life and make such a difference for so many people’s lives because of hope. And hope didn’t come all by itself. It was also brought from her family and friends. “Hope is what keeps us going,” Chaeli said in her speech. “It’s what keeps us striving for the lives we deserve. I have hope for myself, but I also have hope for all other children with disabilities.” Chaeli herself believes in other children, and also believes that she too can pass on the hope to them. “I think we need to make a conscious decision to see the light in every person we meet. I think we need to be more positive about each other. If we see the light in each other, I believe we would live in a much brighter world.” She believes that through hope, disabled children will see the light and the way out to a much brighter, positive, and meaningful life.
The Chaeli Campaign continues to help children with disabilities to take a step forward in both their rights to opportunities and hope. To be who they can be, instead of who people say they are. Chaeli’s efforts in improving the phsycological states of disabled children help them to see the light that guides them to the door, leading them to a life worth living. Helps them to see that they deserve a life that’s meaningful, because disabled people are still people.
Sources:
Chaeli International Childrens Peace Prize 2011 - YouTube." 2012. 1 Nov. 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCuEg-WoMlU>
"2011 Chaeli Mycroft - Childrenspeaceprize." 2011. 1 Nov. 2012 <http://childrenspeaceprize.org/childrens-peace-price/2011-chaeli-mycroft/>
"The Chaeli Campaign | Hope in Motion." 2005. 1 Nov. 2012 <http://chaelicampaign.co.za/>
