Many Indonesians still look down on people with Down syndrome as they cannot contribute to society, some even think they are a curse so their families hide them or lock them up inside.
Many participated in an event held by Jakarta Archdiocese Social Communication Commission on March 26 at St. Don Bosco Church in North Jakarta. The event was to mark World Down Syndrome Day which falls each year March 21.
About 45 people with Down syndrome attended the event from the Indonesian Down Syndrome Association, Lovely Hands and Dian Grahita. About 400 Catholics and Muslims participated in the day.
Indonesia has about 300,000 people with the condition but only one percent of their 170,891 schools have special facilities for them. Because of the lack of schools, Dian Grahita school was established in 2009.
(Photos and text by ucanews.com)
