By: Saidu Jalloh
Grafton, Freetown, In a landmark step toward promoting inclusivity and dignity for persons living with disabilities, the Honourable Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs. Melrose Karminty, officially inaugurated the One Family People Sensory Room* in Grafton, Freetown.
The ceremony was made especially memorable by a heartfelt keynote address from Pastor Craig Johnson of Lakewood Church, Houston, who delivered a powerful message of faith, encouragement, and affirmation. Wearing a t-shirt bearing empowering words such as “beautiful,” “talented,” and “masterpiece,” Pastor Johnson proclaimed:
“We want to reteach them what God says about them that they are champions.”
He also shared the inspiring story of his son, Connor, a young man with disabilities who has grown into independence and success. Pastor Johnson emphasized that the same potential exists within Sierra Leone’s children with disabilities. Through the launch of the Champions Club and the donation of You Are Extraordinary books, he delivered a clear message: these children are not to be forgotten they are destined to shine.
Minister Karminty’s speech struck a deep chord with attendees. She stressed the urgent need to view children with disabilities as capable, valuable, and extraordinary individuals. Calling for a national shift in mindset, she urged communities to move beyond mere tolerance and embrace active inclusion, supported by concrete policies and sustainable investment.
She paid tribute to the late founder of the orphanage, honoring their legacy of compassion and service that laid the groundwork for this moment. The Minister also connected the initiative to broader international commitments, including the Berlin Declaration, emphasizing that the sensory room is not an endpoint but a foundational step in a long-term national strategy for disability inclusion.
In her closing remarks, Minister Karminty called for greater support for families, the professionalization of social work, and an unwavering commitment to ending abuse, neglect, and exclusion.
“Development is only genuine when it is inclusive and leaves no one behind,” she reminded the audience an enduring message of hope, responsibility, and collective action.