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September 2025 News Wrap — our work, successes and impact
Twenty-seven young women and men with disabilities will become powerful changemakers to promote disability inclusion in workplaces, programmes and communities in Kenya.
After an intensive, five-day Training of Trainers, the young people will step into their roles as Trainee Disability Inclusion Facilitators (TDIFs).
The training is part of the We Can Work programme and marks the start of a mentorship with Disability Inclusion Advisors, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and Young Africa Works partners. The young people will use their lived experience and new skills to challenge societal stereotypes and break down barriers.
“I believe I’m the change!” said Alice Mbere (pictured above), one of the TDIFs.
“And to all employers: persons with disabilities are a powerhouse. They can work if given opportunities and the right reasonable accommodation — they will deliver.”
Sight-saving surgery in Mozambique
More than 175 people in rural Mozambique have received surgery to save or restore their sight as part of a 10-day surgical eye health campaign.
Patients from Morrumbala and neighbouring districts, in Zambezia Province, visited Morrumbala District Hospital for examinations and surgeries from an ophthalmology team from Quelimane Central Hospital. Light for the World organised the campaign with the Health Authority of Zambezia Province and funding from the German Postcode Lottery (Deutsche Postcode Lotterie).
Veronica Mussuba Mambucha (pictured above), a 69-year-old farmer, had lived with vision problems for about three years. The mobile outreach supported her to make the six-hour trip from her home to hospital, where she had successful cataract surgery.
“I feel very well and I am happy,” she said.
“I will tell my friends who are afraid of surgery that there is no problem— look at us, we are cured and we can see again.”
Parents prepared for best practice care in Burkina Faso
Parents of children with cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities in Burkina Faso have strengthened their skills to better support their children at home and in the community.
The training, organised by ACCESS group and supported financially by Light for the World Burkina Faso, also encouraged communities to change attitudes towards disability.
Songnaba Catherine attended with her son Adonisa (pictured above), who has cerebral palsy. She said lessons included how to best feed, bathe and play with children with intellectual disabilities.
“I learned new techniques that are different from what I was doing before, and they will help me take better care of my son,” she said.
“Every evening, I tell the other members of my family what we learned during the day. The children eagerly await my return to listen to my stories, and the whole family is happy.”
Honoured for eye health progress in Ethiopia
Light for the World Ethiopia has been recognised for a longstanding commitment to improving eye care in the country at a prestigious meeting of eye health professionals.
The recognition came during the 10th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Ethiopian Optometric Association (EOA), in Addis Ababa.
Light for the World has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ophthalmological Society of Ethiopia (OSE). The partnership commits to collaboration in advocacy, quality research and training on eye health.
Light for the World will provide technical expertise, funding support and logistical coordination, while OSE will lead on professional standards, training content and clinical oversight.
Inclusive agriculture inspires
Light for the World experts have shared cutting-edge approaches in agricultural programmes for a webinar to enhance understanding of disability inclusion in rural development.
Ambrose Murangira, Senior Expert, Disability Inclusion, and José Machanguana, Disability Inclusion Advisor, joined more than 90 colleagues from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to explore best practices in inclusive rural development. Faustina Ning’a Cikanda, Senior Expert, Economic Empowerment, will join Ambrose for another webinar with IFAD in October.
Drawing on successes from the SPARK programme, the trio will share the Disability Inclusion Facilitator model and its impact on rural communities. They will also present the AgriLabs approach as a practical framework for community-based strategies that enhance inclusion for people with disabilities.
In case you missed it…
- Light for the World has become a member of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Disability Health Equity Network. This is the third WHO network we have joined, following SPECS 2030 and World Rehabilitation Alliance.
- The achievements of the We Are Able! Programme, which has closed in South Sudan and Uganda, were covered by Eye Radio and The Daily Monitor.
- We celebrated International Day of Sign Languages by highlighting disability inclusion teacher training in South Sudan as part of the Education Cannot Wait programme.
- Colleagues from Light for the World Uganda were profiled in Nation Media Group’s (NMG) The Daily Monitor Newspaper for International Week of Deaf People.
- And The Daily Monitor reported four young people with disabilities — who joined for work experience under a partnership with Light for the World — have secured full-time positions with the media company.
- Lefaso.net reported on nearly 100 health workers from the Tannounyan region in Burkina Faso receiving training on eye care from Light for the World.
- Excited to hear more engaging stories on disability rights and eye health? Subscribe to our new newsletter — the first issue drops in October.
