In a heartwarming development coming from North Macedonia, an 11-year-old girl with down syndrome who was bullied received the surprise of her life when the country’s President decided to escort her to school. According to reports, when President Stevo Pendarovski came to know that 11-year-old Embla Ademi was being bullied by her classmates for being a down syndrome survivor, he decided to stand by her side in solidarity.
Reportedly, the President went to Embla’s home, spoke with her parents, and then walked the young girl to her school. The incident was reported from Gostivar, a city in North Macedonia.
For the unversed, the Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder which causes intellectual and physical disability. According to the World Health Organization, 1 out of every 700 babies in USA is born with Down Syndrome. Due to the intellectual disabilities the disease causes, people surviving the disability are often the cause of being bullied and harassed.
The Facts of the Matter
One of the most transformative phases in a person’s life is when they go to school. In situations when a student is given a nurturing environment with abundance of encouragement from both peers and teachers, they bloom and become a active participant in the society. But when they are bullied by their fellow students or even teachers, their grades suffer, they become more prone to violent outburst, and often, they become vulnerable to depression.
The President of Republic of North Macedonia, Mr. Stevo Pendarovski recently has been making waves for his gesture towards a victim of bullying. Reportedly, President Stevo got to know about an 11-year-old Embla, suffering from Down Syndrome, getting bullied by her classmates and was shunned by them. As a gesture of support, he decided to escort her to her school, and make a statement backed by actions.
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Embla Deemed ‘Aggressive’ By Parents of Classmates
Reportedly, parents of the students that studied in the same class as Embla alleged that the 11-year-old girl was ‘aggressive’. Reportedly, the girl was shunned from other students and was forced to sit in the cold corner of the school hall with a small heater.
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11-Year-Old Embla Had to Sit Alone for Over a Week
When her parents insisted the school to reintegrate Embla, they half-heartedly obliged to do so. However, parents of Embla’s classmates protested against the move and further boycotted their children to take to the class. For over a week, it was 11-year-old Embla sitting alone in the classroom.
When President Stevo got to know about this, he decided to meet Embla’s family and walk little Embla to her school. “We are all equal in this society. I came here to give my support and to raise awareness that inclusion is a basic principle”, President Pendarovski was quoted saying.
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“Embla’s Case Reminds Us…”
Reemphasizing the value of an equal society, President Stevo added, “Embla’s case reminds us of the prejudices we live with and the need for greater protection and care for children with disabilities.”
According to the reports, the President also spoke to Embla’s parents and tried to take a stock of their general day-to-day challenges. He further encouraged Embla’s parents “in their fight for the protection of the rights of children”.
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