African Disability Decade Holds Children's Art Contest for International Day of Disabled Persons 2005

In order to make the point that attitudes begin forming at a very young age, the Secretariat of the African Decade of Disabled Persons sponsored an art contest for second graders in Capetown, culminating in a broadcast ceremony to select the winners on December 3.

Some 27 finalists with their parents and teachers gathered in the Decade offices, while the judges from the Department of Education and other contest supporters narrowed the prizewinners down to 6.

The second graders had been asked to concentrate their wits and paintbrushes on depiction of disability, encouraged to be creative and draw upon their experiences, observations and imagination. The ceremony was addressed by a deaf member of South Africa's parliament, broadcast live on a community radio station and attracted a great deal of media coverage an discusion about attitudes towards people who have disabilities. Details: Ratula@africandecade.co.za

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