Join us for the inspiring story and engaging film “Chuskit” highlighting the importance of disability inclusion and inclusive education to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The film has received awards at festivals in Giffoni (Amnesty International Award), Mumbai (Golden Gateway for Best Feature 5-9 years) and Minneapolis (Youth Jury Award) as well as Seattle, Miami, and Seoul.
It is based on a true story. Young Chuskit has a very simple dream – to go to school. Her dream is cut short when she is rendered a paraplegic after an accident. She’s confined to life indoors in the company of her strict grandfather, who tries to make her understand that school can’t handle her needs. As life at home gets harder, her battle with her grandfather intensifies. Caught between their struggle are Chuskit’s parents and her enterprising brother who want to respect the old-world views, but also want to keep Chuskit’s spirit alive.
The film describes Chuskit’s fascination with school from a young age, the challenges she faces with her disability, and her determination to overcome these infrastructure, societal, and general challenges that inhibit her from attending the village school on the other side of the river.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion on the challenges individuals with disabilities and their communities face every day, the interlinkages of development issues, and the potential solutions and innovative ideas for building a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous future, in which access to education and the opportunity to participate and learn must be ensured for all.
