Emmanuels Gift

I just finished watching this documentary about a disabled Ghanaian man named Emmanuel who was able to overcome the stigma of being disabled and achieve numerous goals. For starters, his father abandoned him when he was very young due to his disabilities; his mother died when he was a young man; and he was shunned by society due to his disability. With all of this and many other problems, he successfully applied for a grant for a mountain bike so that he could travel around Ghana educating people of the strength the disabled have. From there he went to America to compete in a triathlon, receive a prosthetic leg, return home to started his own foundation to help educate disabled children. . . .the list goes on and on. This man, despite all of his problems, followed his passion to change his life and the lives of millions. It is amazing.

What I loved most about Emmanuel was how grounded he was and humble. He became this national hero almost overnight but always stayed focused on his goals. His strength is overwhelming. Being disabled in Ghana leaves most people with one choice: begging on the street. But this, unfortunately, is not just in Ghana. Many African countries perceive being disabled as a negative aspect and in many cases as an omen. The one thing that is so saddening is the strong link between poverty and disability. Considering everything Emmanuel was able to achieve, how can his model be spread; how can we change the way people see the disabled and provide a means for them to help themselves as opposed to relying on the "generosity" of others??