Kumasi, April 1, GNA - Fifteen inmates of Kumasi Cheshire Home, a rehabilitation centre for mental patients, have been presented with start-up kits, certificates and 487.50 Ghana cedis each, after graduating from a 10-month training in hairdressing, chemical production and footwear.

This brings to 20 the number of beneficiaries of the programme started last year by the Home, which also offers skills training programmes.

The project, code named 93Livelihood Project," is being sponsored by Leonard Cheshire Disability International, the international partners of the Home in the United Kingdom (UK) and Jersey, a company based in the United States. Mrs Sandra Cordelia Aidoo, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Home, in an address read on her behalf, said the kits and the cash were to enable the beneficiaries to start an acceptable economic life on their own.

She said the project was commendable and innovative because hitherto, beneficiaries were sent home just after the training without any kits. Mrs Aidoo urged the graduates to try and come out of their predicament by using the home's efforts as a stepping stone. Mrs Aidoo congratulated the beneficiaries for successfully going through the training and thanked the staff and instructors of the home for their patience and hard work.

Mr Jacob Achulo, Ashanti Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare, advised parents to change their attitudes towards people with disabilities since family and community acceptance is better than institutional reforms.

He said there was also the need for people to play advocacy role towards community perception about people with disability. Mrs Vesta Adu Gyamfi, a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and a Board Member of the Home, appealed to corporate bodies, civil society organizations and individuals to support the Home either in cash or kind to enhance the upkeep of the inmates. Mr Owusu Adjei, the Administrator of the Home, said the project is the best and most sustainable since the facility was established 24 years ago. 01 April 11