BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, December 6, 2018 (S.T.E.P.) -- Greenlands-based Ade’s Place which provides a safe and secure place for young persons who are ‘differently abled’ where they can develop to their fullest potential is of special significance to the Ministry of Social Services as it is one of the non-governmental organisations that partner with Government.
Minister of State with responsibility for Health, Community Development, Gender Affairs and Social Services, Senator the Hon Wendy Phipps, made the comments on Wednesday December 5 when she delivered remarks at the institution’s Annual Open House, and commended Director Dr Robertine Chaderton for the work Ade’s Place is doing.
“It is not the kind of area that most people will naturally gravitate towards because persons who are considered to have special needs are individuals who sometimes others of us who are better abled find difficulty coping with, adjusting to and so forth,” explained Minister Phipps.
Residents at Ade’s Place, who are sponsored by Government through the Skills Training Empowerment Programmes (STEP), were advised that at times when people are getting set to celebrate Christmas, they (trainees) should appreciate that smallness matters.
“Those of you who come here to Ade’s Place every day, I am sure that there are times when they feel that they are different and that people overlook them, take them for granted because of their challenges - because of smallness in terms of how we see them,” commented the Hon Phipps.
The Minister of State noted that the purpose of her, and others, being there was to honour persons who are differently abled and encourage them to look at the gift that is inside everyone and to realise that regardless of challenges that some have, every single individual in this world came for a purpose stressing they are not in the world by accident.
“Every year I come here I marvel at the output of these young people in terms of their ability to be creative: The crafts that they produce, the plants that they grow, and the little snacks that they help to prepare,” said the Hon Phipps. “It reminds us that we do not have the luxury as human beings to make excuses for the things that we do not do in life.”
The excuses come when people refuse to make an effort, Senator Phipps noted. “And when you see the beautiful creations some of you might have passed them on the way in, you would recognise what is possible, and also the things that we sometimes take for granted and think are throwaways are the very things that people see beauty in.”
In her conclusion, Minister Phipps said: “I want us to remember throughout Christmas is not so much about the gift getting. It might be about the giving, and that you feel better when you give because at the end of the day we all feel better about ourselves. It is that betterment that we want not just for our families, our close friends or communities but for the country on a whole,”
The ceremony was chaired by Dr Robertine Chaderton, Ade’s Place director, and present included the resident Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan His Excellency Tom Lee, Vice Counsellor at the Embassy of Brazil Mr William Santos, Superintendent for the Wesleyan Holiness Church in the St. Kitts, Nevis and Saba District Rev Spencer Watts, and Pastor Rev Sylvester Herbert of the Basseterre and Conaree Wesleyan Holiness Churches.
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