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March 2024 News Wrap

25.03.2024
Two people smile in front of a blackboard, holding their hands spread out, with palms to the camera. A boy sits on the rights, wearing a blue polo-shirt, he has his arm around his mum's shoulders - to the left - who is wearing a black and orange polka dot top and a white pearl bracelet.
Mauen Makuac Riak, a 15-year old student, and his mother smile together in a classroom, after taking part in a Sign Language training. “I want to continue my studies to become a teacher like one of the Light for the World facilitators who have been training me in sign language,” says Mauen. © Nema Juma / Light for the World.
  • News Wrap

Find out more about our work, successes and impact in March 2024.   

South Sudan: sign language training for schools 

Light for the World delivered sign language training in Yirol East County, South Sudan. 

We distributed copies of the country’s first Sign Language Dictionary and conducted trainings on inclusive language and disability-inclusive practices.

“It’s our responsibility as teachers to make sure that the learning environment caters to all learners,” said Rebecca Yier Rech, a primary teacher, after attending the training.  

By involving communities, parents, teachers, and students, we aim to combat stigma and strengthen the education system throughout the country, enabling children with and without disabilities to attend school. 

We work closely with Education Cannot Wait Global, Save the Children, Plan International, UNESCO, Norwegian Refugee Council and Finn Church Aid to provide safe and inclusive education to 135,000 crisis-affected learners with and without disabilities across fourteen counties in South Sudan. 

Uganda’s got talent! 

We have launched Season 2 of the Sauti Canvas — an innovative project to find and promote talented creative artists with disabilities in Uganda.  

Sauti Canvas provides a stage for young people with and without disabilities to showcase their talents, fosters disability inclusion through arts and music, and advocates for improved access to youth-services throughout Uganda.  

The Canvas initiative offers a chance to reshape perceptions of young people with disabilities in the creative industry. They’re often overlooked despite possessing immense talent.  

Together with Reach a Hand Uganda, Sautiplus Media Hub, ADD International, CBM Global, SRHR Alliance and the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda, we aim to spotlight their abilities, providing opportunities for exposure and sustainable income. 

This year we’re focusing on dancers, vocalists and instrumentalists. 

Join us on this journey of empowerment, inclusion and creativity! And check out the highlights from season one below.

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Inclusive political participation in Kenya 

Light for the World’s Disability Inclusion Advisor, Collins Ombajo,  spoke at a powerful panel discussion on “Walking the Talk on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Electoral Processes”

“The best way to emancipate persons with disability from abject exclusion in governance is by equipping them with knowledge to break the barriers that are instigated by ignorance,” said Collins. 

We continue to partner with organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) to mobilise communities and dismantle barriers to participation. Partnerships like this ultimately support people with disabilities active involvement in shaping governance at all levels by ensuring information on political participation is accessible. 

Collins Ombajo, sits on the left hand side of the picture in a white leather chair. He is wearing black rimmed glasses and speaks into a microphone. A woman sits to the right wearing a white t-shirt and bright blue jacket. They are sitting in front of big red, orange and white posters.
Collins Ombajo takes part in a panel discussion on disability inclusion and political participation. © Courtesy / Light for the World.

Disability rights are women’s rights 

On 8 March, we joined our partners around the world to celebrate International Women’s Day and inspire inclusion.  

While women are at high risk of experiencing violence, women and girls with disabilities are three times more likely to experience gender-based violence. 

Our Gender Expert, Jennifer Pitter-López, explored the intersection between gender and disability and shared a practical guide to tackling intersectional discrimination and gender-based violence.  

A woman takes part in a Cyclone Simulation exercise in Buzi, Mozambique as part of the ICDP project, funded by Austrian Development Agency. Gender is mainstreamed throughout the project, ensuring that women and girls with disabilities are included in creating emergency response plans to climate-related disasters. She is wearing an bright orange hat and vest, and is using a megaphone. She's standing outside in front of some vegetation.
A woman takes part in a Cyclone Simulation exercise in Buzi, Mozambique as part of the ICDP project, funded by Austrian Development Agency. Gender is mainstreamed throughout the project, ensuring that women and girls with disabilities are included in creating emergency response plans to climate-related disasters. © Mango Sound / Light for the World

In case you missed it… 

Our CEO, Marion Lieser, met with the County Government of Laikipia to bring more business opportunities to entrepreneurs with disabilities in Kenya, as part of the InBusiness Initiative

The impact in Laikipia is made possible by our brilliant partners, including Sightsavers and United Disabled Persons of Kenya. Find out more here

Our brand-new Partnerships Page on our website celebrates how collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at Light for the World. 

And finally, The Guardian covered our crucial work with partners in South Sudan, where we work to combat nodding syndrome.

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