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Quotes from children and young people with disabilities representing the Young Voices Network. Tio: Young Voice, Ethiopia “Even though education is one of the main goals in life, we don’t get a chance….classrooms, libraries, dorms, cafeterias- nothing is accessible….asking for overnight change may not be realistic but simple solutions like shifting some classrooms downstairs when required and ensuring that new buildings are accessible is not asking for too much…people with disabilities just need an opportunity” Stacey: Guyana “I feel great satisfaction and fulfilment by being able to go out every day, work and do something, feel needed and useful” Gurston : Young Voice, Kenya “As young people with disabilities, we don’t want to just sit and do nothing…. We always want to contribute and do something… disability is not inability” Yellamma: Young Voice, India “After the video training in Ethiopia, when I was trying to make a film, I spoke to Rosaline who was being denied higher education as a person with disability. Her college was inaccessible so the college authorities were apprehensive of whether it would be okay to admit her. That the college is not accessible is not Rosaline's fault. So why should she pay for it or suffer for it? It is time that our leaders think about these basic questions. In case they don't, we as young disabled people will make them think about them by talking to them and making them realize that we have made them leaders to take care of our problems. I could see myself in Rosaline's place only a couple of years back when I faced the same problem because the college was not accessible. Things haven't changed much, but whether it will change in future or not depends greatly on us. If we want it to change, it will change and we can make it happen.” Ranjana: Young Voice, Sri Lanka “As Young Voices we have been undertaking a number of activities at divisional, district, provincial and national levels to maintain pressure and convince the government to ratify the UNCRPD. I had the chance to play a significant role in lobbying with our government to sign the UNCRPD. I met the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in the Parliamentary complex and handed over a memorandum to expedite the ratification process. That was the red letter day of my life. I had never thought that I would be able to meet our Prime Minister and demand that the rights of persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka are guaranteed. I made a speech on the UNCRPD in front of him. Three national newspapers published the same with pictures and my whole village and relatives, including my immediate family members, wished me well with open arms.” Daintowon: Young Voice, Liberia “The Young Voices Project in Liberia, along with the National Union of Organizations of the Disabled (NUOD) decided on the 12th of June to engage with our Government- mainly law makers- through parades, campaigns, interactions and the media (largely through radio talk shows as well as the newspapers) and to highlight discrimination across the country. With all these means being put into place, on the 14th of August 2008, we were invited to Session (Plenary) of the law makers to observe how the process was going to be, because the UNCRPD was on the agenda for that day, and the Bill was signed by the Lower House, which is the House of Representatives. And on the 28th of August 2008, the Convention was concurred by the Senate. Now, it has been sent to the President, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for her signature after which it will be ratified.” Mohammed: Young Voice, Sierra Leone “To us in the Young Voices of Sierra Leone, the UNCRPD is the greatest hope, assurance and guarantee that if ratified it will enable us live a dignified life and allow us to put our disability behind us and mentally prepare us for the challenges that lie ahead. We are confident that this is the feeling that is being felt by every disabled person globally.”