Joan Orishaba,Minister of Gender Affairs and persons with disabilities,Female GRC for Pwds at Kabale University.She is pursuing a Bachelor of Social work And Social Administration. She believes in social capital and always makes sure that she meets and fights for the students needs.
Currently works with National Union of Disabled persons of Uganda(NUDIPU) as Secretary at the district level, more so, she is volunteering with ROTARACT Club of Kabale University as THE EMPOWERING GIRLS CHAIR.
A POEM.
I’M NOT DISABLED; I’M DIFFERENTLY ABLED!
My Ability is stronger than my Disability
Know me for my Abilities Not for my Disability
They see my disability, I see my ability
They call me disabled; I call myself differently abled.
There are some incidents that come in your life
Incidents that break you, or deform you
But they mold you into the best version of you.
Society sees me,
As unhealthy, defective and deviant
Their attitude to me is that,
I’m incapable of participating or contributing to society
That I only rely on welfare and charity.
But their insults will not break me
Their insults will only motivate me to prove them wrong
And so I have decided to fight my fears
Fears of insecurity and delusion
For I know, I’m much stronger than they think.
They say I’m not perfect
But the world of the perfects lives the imperfects
So, I have decided to get out of the closet
Every time, I’m in public, I always smile
I smile because I’m proud of who I’m
Differently gifted!
Joan Orishaba.
DISABILITY IS NOT INABILITY.
There is a story of a woman
Whose perfectly imperfect life
Made her who and what she is today
It’s the story of a woman
Who, in pursuit of her dreams and aspirations
Made other people realize
That if you think your life is hard
And you are giving up on it
Because you think it is unfair
You ought to think again
Because when you think that way
You are being unfair to your own self
It is a story of a woman
Who made people realize
That sometimes problems are not too big
*We are too small because we cannot handle them*
Never believe a prediction that doesn’t empower you
If you believe predictions that do not empower you
You will wither away and die physically and spiritually
You will be given a lot of titles in your life
You will be told many different things
But you must only listen to that which empowers you
I believe in the power of words
Many people speak before they think
But l know the value of words
Words can make or break you
They can heal your soul
Or they can damage you forever
You are not your condition: I AM NOT DISABLED
I have to rise above and show people
That the only disability is one’s refusal to adapt
You have to adapt to whatever environment you’re in
You have to believe in yourself, that you can bring value to the human race
No matter your current condition, title or stature
If l believed that l am disabled
I would wither away
I would be shy
I would be insecure
I would be afraid
I would act like l need help
And the rest of humanity would be okay with it
But l choose something else today
I choose to be strong
I choose to be a leader
I choose to be an inspiration to others
I choose to have words that move this planet.
Joan Orishaba ( kabale University)