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This is the concluding part of the exclusive interview with Jtown Top personality number one by Mattthewtegha, click here to see the first one.
Grace Jerry is a disability rights advocate, Peace promoter and music artiste working to create an inclusive world where everyone counts. Within the last few years Grace has brought freshness to advocacy efforts in Nigeria through her unique blend of passion and music bringing prominence to the important roles Persons with disabilities can play in National development.
READ AS SHE TALKS ABOUT MEETING THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT AND ALSO A BRIEF MASSAGE TO YOUTHS
WHAT IS THE MOTIVATION FOR WHAT YOU DO?
My motivation for work steams from my community that I represent. You will notice that I keep referring to persons with disabilities as we talk, that shows clearly how much we must address barriers to inclusion. When ever I climb the stage to do a song or advocate for an issue its always beyond me, its a bout that child with disability who is not in school because his school is not accessible or the woman with disability who suffers abuse but cant speak up because no body will believe her.
HOW WAS MEETING THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT LIKE?
Meeting the American president is one of those experiences that lives with you forever. The very moment I was selected for the YALI program, I wanted to make a mark but truth is shaking President Obama wasn’t part of that plan. The program was scheduled to last for 7 weeks, highlight of the program is usually the a town hall meeting with President Obama. Its an event everyone looks forward too not just because of the chance to interact with the president but most importantly because the event provides inspiration to reshape Africa’s future. So a week before this big event I got a call from the white house asking if I would be interested in introducing President Obama on stage. For a moment I didn’t believe my ears. Here was I coming from a society where persons with disabilities were treated as less humans and now I have the honour of introducing one of the most powerful men on stage.itwas big for me, our organization inclusive friends and you can tell that it had a huge effect on millions of persons with disability in Africa
HOW DO YOU COMPARE SUCH DEVELOPED SOCIETY TO OURS?
Its hard comparing the American society to ours here not just because of the high level of infrastructural development in the US. There is high respect for rule of law, human rights and social protection. For a person with disability, the environment speaks inclusion. I boarded planes, trains and even taxi’s all by myself, throughout my stay there no one treated me like I was different because of my disability. That’s the future we see here…
HOW WAS IT AT THE YALE MEETING IN WASHINGTON DC?
At the Leadership training we were exposed to using Innovative ways of solving challenges Without waiting on the government. Creating a push in our community by bringing the much desired positive change. It strategically positioned us to meet with partners and potential sponsors who will fund projects that will impact our community
A MESSAGE TO THE YOUTHS?
My message to young people is to have courage to follow their dreams even when it doesn’t make sense to people around. Hard work and consistency pays because nothing comes by sudden flight. We must never allow anything limit us because we carry greatness. That’s my story, on this chair I have been make my little impact and touched lives in different ways. We must step out to create the future
SOME YOUTHS ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THE SOCIETY DOES NOT SUPPORT THEM ENOUGH WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Well its true that our society may not have given young people the kind of support they would want to attain their dreams. But no Government gives you everything. Most successful people we know today created success from the most difficult conditions, we should emulate them. If success was an easy process, every one would have been up there. Its a choice really to keep looking at whats not working and making excuses or stepping out to carve a niche for yourself in this world.
WHAT DOES GRACE JERRY REPRESENTS?
Grace Jerry represents courage, belief, inspiration and inclusion.
FUTURE PROJECTIONS/ASPIRATIONS
My future aspiration will be to expand our work to more communities and nations across our world dismantling barriers to inclusion using music and advocacy as tools for change
MASSAGE TO NIGERIAN LEADERS.
Message to Nigerian leaders- support disability inclusive policies so as to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
FINAL MASSAGE.
Please View persons with disability as humans they are people with names, dreams and aspirations. Treat them as human they could do great with our acceptance