The Olympus Theatres Inc. is giving back to children with disabilities, through a series of movie events this summer.

They have joined hands with Variety – the Children’s Charity and the Let’s Show Them Love Public Awareness Campaign for Children with Disabilities to offer a free pre-summer break movie event.

The movie events will continue until August at the Olympus Expo Cinema, Sargeant’s Village in Christ Church.

This is just one of the activities, intended to give children with disabilities and their care-givers a chance to socialize and to be entertained in a public venue. As it relates to the rights of persons with disabilities, it is about improving their lives with fun-filled, yet educational programmes to help build their self-esteem and confidence.

Chief executive officer of the Olympus, Mr. John Morgan said that he was pleased to partner with both entities in their continuing drive to assist the less fortunate.

“The joint venture of a film outing along with food and drinks is our way of giving the children ‘a day off’ to enjoy what the rest of us may take for granted. Olympus’s mission is to make this into a monthly outing and thereby truly demonstrate that integration is our obligation and charity is not at only Christmas. We challenge other businesses and their staff to come on board and help us make this a reality.”

The Lion’s Club of Bridgetown and Junior Chamber International (Barbados) are assisting with the coordination of the movie event.

Refreshments and special treats for the children were also provided by Brydens Distribution, Hanschell Inniss Limited, Purity Bakeries, R.L. Seale and Company Limited and SBI Distribution Inc.

The campaign – founded in June 2008 – was pre-launched in March 2009 at the United Nations House (Barbados). It was officially launched on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2009 in Independence Square, Bridgetown. Its theme is: Embrace Children with Disabilities – Let’s Show Them Love. Production was done by the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, Urban and Rural Development and the National Disabilities Unit, in association with UNICEF (Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean).

Its goal is to raise the awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly children; to improve the lives of children with disabilities, advocating for a society of inclusion which affords children with disabilities equal rights and opportunities in education, health-care, and adequate social systems.