I still remember the day it all began. The school bell rang for an unexpected assembly, and we were all ushered into the hall. I had no idea what it was about, just another talk, I thought. But that day, our guest speaker was the Executive Director of the Inclusive Voice for Women and Youths Initiative. She was joined by other team members, and together they spoke about the rights of persons with disabilities, the struggles of marginalised groups, and the role young people can play in changing things.
I sat there, fully focused. Some of the stories they shared made me stop and think, not because they were strange, but because they opened my eyes to the challenges I had never noticed before. I realised I had been moving through school without really noticing what certain people in my society go through.
That assembly was also the inauguration of our school’s Inclusive Club. Right then, I decided to join. At first, I just wanted to learn more. But the more I listened, participated, and got involved, the more my perspective changed. I began to see inclusion not as something “extra,” but as something everyone should have by right.
Months later, I was elected President of the Inclusive Club. It felt almost unreal—me, leading a movement I didn’t even know existed before that day in the hall. But I took it seriously. We started awareness drives, peer support circles, and small but important changes to make our school more accessible and welcoming for all students.
Now, I’m dreaming bigger. I want to speak up for policies that protect the dignity of every person, everywhere.
That single school assembly didn’t just introduce me to a club; it gave me a purpose. And I’m ready to run with it.
