The sweet and humble gesture of North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski has garnered praise across the globe when he escorted an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome to school after he heard that she was being bullied in class.
President Pendarovski came to know that the child, Embla Ademi had been facing discrimination at her school due to Down syndrome. He met the child and her family, to learn about their daily struggles. He even gifted her some books and then walked her to ‘Edinstvo’, her elementary school, in the city Gostivar.
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21 that causes learning disabilities and other health problems.
President Pendarovski shared a video of his meeting with the little girl on his Instagram account. “Embla’s case reminds us of the prejudices we live with and the need for greater protection and care for children with disabilities,” he wrote in the caption.
In the video clip, the President can be seen walking with Ademi on the streets and meeting her parents.
Videos and photos of the President walking with the girl went viral on social media. The users hailed the President for his generous act.
“It is our obligation, as a state, but also as individuals, and the key element in this common mission is empathy. It will help children like Embla, but it will also help us learn from them how to sincerely rejoice, share and be in solidarity,” Pendarovski said.
“Prejudices in that context are the main obstacle to building an equal and just society for all,” he added while talking to the local press.
This story of President Pendarovski is an inspiration for every one of us. His humble act emphasized that no child should be left behind, and children with special needs should not only be given the rights they deserve, but also be treated equally and welcomed in their schools. Furthermore, it taught us how important it is to stand for the victim and be the voice for the voiceless. You will never know, a simple and kind gesture from your end, might mean the world to someone going through discrimination!
Thoughtful🙏