Very quickly, I think it's great to be in this company, and I also would like to commend Mike Lake for bringing us all together, because I know how hard he works to put this as one of the top priorities.
I want to emphasize why it's so important.
First of all, 80% of children and adolescents who are struggling with other abilities, because they don't get the support they need through education, are in the global south. Because we are working with Canada as our major partner—one of our major partners—for children in those conflict and crisis countries in the global south, I'd really appeal to the committee to pay attention to the majority of the 80% who, besides being marginalized, are stigmatized because of their other abilities or disabilities or are, in addition, suffering from climate disaster issues or armed conflict. If we cannot cater to this 80%, who are in the most difficult circumstances on the globe, it will eventually impact all of us—not the least our consciences.
I also would like to thank Canada for commissioning a study to see how you can strengthen the system, but I again would appeal to you and ask that you bear in mind for all of us that many of my colleagues who are investing all the time in those children, all of the stigmatized, are left with absolutely nothing to cater to their disability needs. This would require more financing for us to be able to do that work together with you as Canada.
I just wanted to make that point, but it's great to be with all of you, because we all share the same passion and determination to bring them out there and not keep them behind, to actually bring them out to be the shining stars they are.
Let me conclude by saying that I prefer to call them “other abilities” and children with other abilities. I was in South America recently. In Colombia, I met a little girl who was born without limbs or arms. She had learned how to paint with her mouth. I had never seen such beautiful paintings and such skill to do this by holding the pencil in her mouth. I think we need to lift them up as stars who deserve to be put right at the forefront, but we need to invest in them financially.
Thank you.