Chaeli Mycroft

   A staggering 1.7 million individuals, in other words, 4.3% of the population in South Africa are disabled. One incredible young girl is trying to aid these poor people. The International Children's Peace Prize of  2011 was designated to Chaeli Mycroft, at the age of seventeen.  Living all her life in South Africa, Chaeli Mycroft was born with Cerebral Palsy and at the age of nine started her journey with the support of her three best friends, sister and mother. They helped her with her first project that inspired her to start helping others, earning money for her first electrical wheelchair. This encouraged Chaeli’s determination to help disabled children all over South Africa through her organization, The Chaeli Campaign. Perseverance, is what led her to being presented with the prize. Throughout Chaeli Mycroft’s journey she is fighting to stop discrimination towards disabled children and the right to assistance no matter who you are.

   In South Africa not all disabled children are born into a society that accepts them, instead they are discriminated against and Chaeli Mycroft  helps to prevent this with her organisation. She goes and meets disabled children in their homes and at their schools doing workshops and getting them the medical care they need to be able to be more independent and in control of their lives. “The Chaeli Campaigns helps 3,000 people a year with assistant devices, therapies, and emotional support.” In giving the disabled children the assistance they need she lets them be more “normal” which lets them be more accepted in their societies. This causes less discrimination to be pointed their way. Chaeli is disabled and understands the limitation on her abilities and knows what it is like to be discriminated against. “Chaeli was born with Cerebral Palsy, through which the function of her arms and legs is limited.” Even with Cerebral Palsy Chaeli has followed her dreams and is fighting for what she feels is right, to stop discrimination towards disabled children just like her.

   Rights are important, not everyone has equal rights and unfortunately that is the case of many disabled children in South Africa. Not only has Chaeli fought for the stopping of discrimination she also have devoted her life to share the gift of equal rights. She has been help children gain the rights to assistant devices, therapies, and emotional support. Most of the kids Chaeli visits would never have the opportunities she has given them. She has saved their lives. The Chaeli Campaign goes to communities and bring to light the fact that a lot of their disabled children need attention, care, and love. They breaf people on how to do this or help them do this. “Chaeli received the prize for her commitment to the rights of children with disabilities in South Africa through her project: the Chaeli Campaign.” Rights, a morally good, justified, or acceptable way. Chaeli is giving children the right they deserve in the world. She does this because as I said before she is disabled and feels that every disabled person should have the same rights as everyone else in the world. “Disabled people are still people, who have the same needs and rights” Chaeli is an inspiration and should be heard because her message is important RIGHTS MATTER and with her message comes a story, her story, her life!

  Chaeli’s work as changed the lives of many people and children alike, with her drive to stopping discrimination and helping giving right to disabled children. People such as Chaeli help change the world for the better. She has taken her disability and made it into her message the message that everyone should be equal, no matter who they are. That is why the Peace Prize is so important because it reminds us of all the beautiful things that are happening in the world every day. Such as the Chaeli Campaign and it helps us realize all the little things that we can do to help contribute to making the world a better place to live for me and for you. This would help the 1.7 million people in South Africa who are disabled with their everyday life. IMAGINE!

Sources used:
1 "Disability Statistics - SignGenius." 2004. 1 Nov. 2012 <http://www.signgenius.com/info-statistics.shtml>
2 "Children's Peace Prize winner Chaeli Mycroft in South Africa ..." 2012. 1 Nov. 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24zQ13hQfKI>
3"Dreams Begin With Dreamers: Chaeli Mycroft." 2012. 1 Nov. 2012 <http://ctang17.blogspot.com/2012/10/chaeli-mycroft.html>

Harrison Bergeron- Vonnegut's Message

In the story of Harrison Bergeron the author Vonnegut is trying to send us/the world the message that we can't have perfect equality. We should know that we, (people) are not flawless and can't achieve perfect equality in the world. 

Everyone is equal in the Harrison Bergeron story yet there is still something wrong, “everyone is finally equal...Some things about living still weren’t quite right,

though.” (pg. 130) In the short story of Harrison Bergeron the government or ruler has tried to accomplish equality but in making everybody at the same intelligence and ability level they have created a dystopian instead of an utopia society. "And George, while his intelligence was way above

normal, had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required by law to wear it at all times. It was tuned to a government transmitter. Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brains." (pg.130) Diana Moon Glampers and the rulers of the world in 2081 have made everyone like Hazel, "stupid" (quote Olivia Gardiner) or under the average intelligence for our world. You would of thought that this would have make the world a utopian place but in pursuit of equality the rulers of 2081 were blinded in the haze of fog. They were led through the fog by the idea that we/people can reach complete equality. The world can come to a form of equality, I am sure, but we shouldn't be chancing rainbows.