Disability is power

Disability was just a word,today,it is power;
Scader Louis

At the age of 13, she was already an entrepreneur; she was already an expert on family budgets and expenditures, she was good with money. Business was a surviving strategy. She could be seen around the township of Mangochi carrying “kanyenya” (Fried flour coated Fish). The death of her father led young Scader Louis and her mother into this business as a way of survival. Scader was then a school girl helping her mother with business, she was at St Augustine primary school in Mangochi. There was nothing amazing for her like being raised in the beautiful lakeshore area. After completing her primary school, Scader joined St Monica Girls’ Secondary school. She was a hard worker and carried a dream of being a banker someday. She had seen some bankers who really knew how to dress up and that fascinated Scader to an extent of wishing to be one.

In 1999, Scader was faced with a painful blow that almost shattered her dreams completely. She lost her mother and that brought hiccups on her education as well as her siblings’. She thought that would mean an end to her education and that she will never be a banker as she wished. Graciously, Sisters of Divine Providence gave her hope to hold on to her dream of being a banker; they supported Scader’s education by funding her secondary tuition. Years passed by and it was 2001, Scader completed secondary education, her results were just perfect and she could sense a walk into the university corridors for a course leading to her Banker dream.2002 she sat for the Malawi University Entrance Examination, unfortunately, she was left out. She could not do otherwise except securing a job with her MSCE as she now was the mother and father of the family. All her siblings depended on her for support and she had to finance her own education with a private institution as she still had a heart for her dream.

1^st June 2002, World Vision International opened up an opportunity for Scader to work as a customer service Facilitator. She was posted to Ching’anda in Makanjira, a field office which was about 150 km from Mangochi Boma (Main town). Scader saw an opportunity in the newly relocated place. The distance from her office to the main town ignited a strong desire to further her studies as she believed a better and advanced education would land her to a better job in town. She then started some savings out of her salary and planned to enroll for an accounting Diploma course with the Malawi College of Accountancy. Before she could enroll for a diploma in Accountancy, she was presented with a chance to study a Bachelor degree in Education as a parallel program student at the University of Malawi, Chancellor College. Even though pursuing a Bachelor’s degree would have meant a lot for Scader, it was just impossible to do so. It was just an opportunity that Scader watched slipping off her hands. There was nothing she could do about it. It was a great opportunity but she never was prepared to take it as it could have costed her almost everything including her job, the only lifeline for her and the siblings. She let this opportunity pass in 2003. The following year, Scader enrolled for a weekend class diploma in accounting at Malawi College of Accountancy in Blantyre. This meant travelling over 300km every weekend from Ching’anda and she had to cross Lake Malawi on a boat and connect through Chipoka- Salima to attend classes in Blantyre. One can tell how hard this was but Scader carried on. If you wonder what was fueling her strength, Scader would say “I had a big dream and I was determined to achieve.”

A dramatic change happened for Scader on 25^th April 2004, it was a lifetime change. Change that did not just affect her dreams but also her physical prestige. On this day, Scader was on her way back home from school. She boarded a minibus to Makanjira via Salima, as the minibus approached Lirangwe Trading centre, the front tyre burst and it lost control. Scader had been involved in a road traffic accident, she had broken her spine,.she could no longer stand on her two feet, she became wheelchair binded. what would this mean to Scader? Will she ever achieve her dream? What about her siblings? Her job? And everything she cared about. Scader lost all the beauty in herself within a blink of an eye. There was no more hope for the most beautiful and ambitious Scader. All her dreams were shattered. It all became worse as she went through the agony of not being informed of what had happened and whether she could be able to walk again.

“ I cried till there was no tear left, slept till I couldn’t sleep no more, I thought of ending it all but I saw how helpless I was, I needed help from someone even  to take my own life… For days my life was hell and I kept asking God numerous questions regarding my situation and why he allowed it. Unfortunately there was just no answer available.” -Explained  Scader.

Time passed and Scader is now convinced she is disabled, acceptance did not come so quick and easily. January 2005 was a time that God helped Scader accept it all and regained hope to face life again, to dream again and to pursue again. She was ready to do it again. She enrolled for a Diploma in accounting again at PACT college in the same year. She beared courage and a strong determination to take this chance and change her life story. The process of change was not easy, college experience as a disabled student was painful and discouraging. It took time for the college management to make adjustments for her access to some lessons. She needed to be lifted to get into class. A thing she would have never wished for. Little did she know that her disability was a way of instilling hope in other disabled persons. The following semester Scader was so happy to see three other disabled students joining the college. It was motivating and encouraging for Scader. Each passing day she could see God granting her more strength and in June 2006, she completed her Diploma course. July 2006 she started her professional level and in December 2010, she was already a qualified Chartered Accountant.

 Many people, especially girls consider accounting to be difficult as they relate it to mathematics. As for scader, prayer and determination makes one capable of being anything in life regardless of their gender status. “A woman with a disability faces double discrimination based on gender and the fact that she is disabled, but everything is possible and I have conquered it all. I am a Finance Manager in one of the biggest nongovernmental organizations in the world in terms of budget size and workforce and it is no mean achievement to be at that level. Forever, I am grateful to God for His love upon my life.” One would never deny the fact that Scader Louis is not just an accountant, but indeed a woman achiever who is also a peer group trainer and Co- Founder of the Spinal injuries Association of Malawi where she does work with fellow spinal cord injured persons to revive their confidence and determination to becoming productive citizens after spinal cord injuries.

NB : This profile is shared for motivational purposes, feel free to use it to motivate young women and girls who you know are still not aware of their potential. If you are looking for mentorship or need more details please contact the blog owner (alibewawo@gmail.com). young women achievers are also welcome to share their profiles and achievements:Are you one or do you know a young woman whose achievements and story will motivate and encourage girls to stay in school? send me an email and the story will be featured here.

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 Photo Credit : AMARU Photography in support of girls education

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