Michaela Mycroft

During the second day of the 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates Michaela Mycroft was praised for her commitment to the rights of children with disabilities in her homeland South Africa. Among the laureates that were present at the Summit were former president Mikhail Gorbachev, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and former president Lech Walesa. Michaela Mycroft spoke with former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. In his speech former president F.W. de Klerk called her efforts impressive and noted that with her positive attitude she is an inspiration to many. After these praising words, he
presented this extraordinary prize to Michaela Mycroft.
Michaela Mycroft was born with Cerebral Palsy, which is why the function of her arms and legs is limited. But where others see limitations, she sees possibilities. Michaela Mycroft: “My main drive is for differently-abled people to be included and accepted the way we are, because we cannot change our disability but we can change the way people see our disability.”
Michaela Mycroft mentioned in her speech that we can make disability just another trait instead of a reason for exclusion. To make that happen we need to work together. Michaela Mycroft also referred to a song of the band Nickelback that says: “What’s worth the prize is always worth the fight”. Michaela Mycroft: “I know that the prize of inclusion is definitely worth the fight.”
Finally, Michaela Mycroft mentioned that it is even more special for her to receive the award from former president F.W. de Klerk. Michaela Mycroft: “I was born in 1994 and this was the year that Nelson Mandela became president of the new South Africa. It is therefore even more special for me to receive this award from former president F.W. de Klerk, because he worked with former president Mandela towards a more equal society.”