A Night to Shine for Children with Disabilities
Beit CURE Children’s Hospital of Malawi, in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation, hosted it’s annual Night to Shine event, treating children with disabilities to an incredible evening of celebration.
Over 100 attendees, including 30 children and their guardians, gathered at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Blantyre for this special occasion including patients from CURE Malawi and children supported by various partner organizations. The day began with beauty services, where makeup artists from Ts Glam Studio and barbers from Urban Shave graciously volunteered, helping each child look their best and feel their most confident.
“Night to Shine presents a unique opportunity for the children to interact with their caregivers, doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff outside of the ward and the hospital,”explained Dr. Rhoda Kriek, Executive Director of CURE Malawi, highlighting the event’s significance.“The event provides parents and caregivers the joy of watching their children experience unconditional acceptance and pure happiness,” she elaborated.
The evening was full of exciting activities with interactive games, a full-course dinner, and dancing. A highlight to remember was the traditional Masese dance performance by some of the children, who sang an empowering song during their dance, affirming a belief in themselves and their unlimited potential.
Malawi Council for Disability Affairs Director General Mr. George Chiusiwa served as the guest of honor and emphasized the importance of recognizing children’s capabilities beyond their disabilities. “We must not tire as we work towards helping children with disabilities with opportunities to live out their potential,” he emphasised.
One of the children, Sarafina, a patient at Beit CURE, shared her transformative journey: “Because of my disability, I had been unable to attend school, and I fell behind. Now I have hope that I will be able to catch up with my friends in school and realise my dream of becoming a nurse one day.” In a society where children with disabilities, like Sarafina, often face discrimination and isolation, Night to Shine stands as a beacon of inclusion and celebration.
To learn more about the other ways CURE Malawi invests in and empowers children with disabilities, click here.
