Cebile is a bold and passionate disability justice leader activist from the northern part of the Kingdom of Eswatini in Southern Africa. She is also part of the 2025 cohort of ADD International’s Global Disability Leadership Academy (GDLA).
Through her project, Cebile is advocating for accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society. Her focus is on raising disability awareness, starting from the family unit to the community, and all the way up to national level, because she believes real change begins with awareness and understanding.
About the Global Disability Leadership Academy.
In April 2025 we launched the Global Disability Leadership Academy through a pilot in Nairobi, Kenya. Meet the 2025 Global Disability Leadership Academy Fellows.
The Academy exists to support the unique but largely untapped leadership potential of disability justice leaders – especially young people and women with disabilities. Many of these groups have received little or no support with their leadership journey. But their leadership would contribute to a diverse and thriving disability justice movement.
At the academy, disability justice leaders are equipped with knowledge and skills on leadership and advocacy. Cebile is using the skills acquired at the academy to advocate for accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities in her community in all aspects of life.
Experience with the Leadership Academy.
“My overall experience with the Global Disability Leadership Academy was an inclusive and very impactful experience, starting from the application process to attending the first in person meeting.”
“Before joining the Academy, the beliefs in my community and the barriers around me were limiting me because I had no one to look up to. I wasn’t involved in any disability-related activities in my community, but I had a strong desire to advocate for persons with disabilities. Joining the Global Disability Leadership Academy was a life-changing experience. It gave me the opportunity to meet other disability justice activists from different parts of the world, learn from their work, and see the incredible change they are creating in their different communities.”
Leading change in the community.
As part of their application to ADD International’s Global Disability Leadership Academy (GDLA), fellows submitted proposals for projects they wanted to lead in their communities. Throughout the academy, they received tailored mentorship, leadership development and support to turn those ideas into action.
Cebile shares about her project and the impact she is creating in her community.
“My project focused on raising awareness and advocating for disability inclusion because I saw that persons with disabilities are not involved in activities in the community. I also realised that many people did not know how to interact with persons with disabilities because of stigma and lack of understanding. I wanted to change this by raising awareness and educating the people in my community about disability justice.”
“I have continued with my project even after graduating from the Leadership Academy. I have also expanded my efforts by using social media platforms to raise awareness and advocate for disability Inclusion. As a result of this work, other organisations have invited me to speak and educate others about disability inclusion.”
Cebile, Leadership Academy Fellow.
“I created an online platform on google meet called Disability Inclusion Talk show where we discuss disability issues in depth. I invite persons with disabilities to the show to share their voices so that they can be seen and heard.”
Creating a safe space for disability-led dialogue.
“During the talk show, we discuss a wide range of topics including topics related to the disability global days. We also have open discussions where the participants share the challenges they are experiencing. And from that I take initiative to contact the relevant authorities in the community to raise our concerns so that they can take action.”
“Our meetings also include caregivers and family members. We engage them in conversations about disability and provide guidance on how they can better support persons with disabilities at home and within the community.”
“Many persons with disabilities appreciate the platform where they can openly share their ideas and challenges, they always feel encouraged, they are able to learn and share their stories. We now have created a community, and we are able to keep in touch, support and share with each other different opportunities”
“Recently, one of our participants, who is a wheelchair user, shared that it was difficult for him to move from his home to the bus stop because the roads were in poor condition. After hearing his story, we reached out to the authorities in the community and advocated for improvements to the roads leading to the homes of persons with disabilities to make mobility easier.”
Cebile, Leadership Academy Fellow.
“When we approached them, they became interested in learning more about persons with disabilities and how they could promote inclusion. As a result of our advocacy, roads were improved, making it easier for persons with disabilities in our community to move around, access essential services, and participate in community meetings and activities.”
“I have already started seeing positive changes. More persons with disabilities are now involved in raising awareness, and caregivers are no longer ashamed to talk openly about disability. Stigma is still present, but through our advocacy, people have become more willing to discuss disability and interact with persons with disabilities as equal members of the community.”
“I also share what I learned in the Academy with other disability justice leaders and activists, especially those in my community. I believe that when more people have these skills, they can create even greater change and raise more awareness. Many of them are now eager to apply and be part of the next cohort of the Leadership Academy.”
“In my community, I was one of the first people to actively champion disability inclusion. I am also working to connect with the national disability movement, although I have not yet received a response. In my country, disability justice is still not taken seriously enough, but I remain committed to ensuring that our voices are heard.”
Cebile, Leadership Academy Fellow.
“Currently there are no leadership positions held by persons with disabilities. As we approach the next elections, I want to raise awareness so that persons with disabilities are recognised as capable leaders and are given the opportunity to contest for leadership positions and represent our communities.”
Impact from the Leadership Academy.
Through mentorship, leadership development, and peer learning, the academy equips fellows with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead change in their communities.
Reflecting on the Leadership Academy, Cebile shared:
“The skills and support I gained from the Leadership Academy have really been impactful because before I joined the academy, I only had the desire and lived experience to create change, but I lacked the knowledge and practical skills to advocate effectively.”
“The skills gained from the Academy strengthened my ability to advocate strategically. It equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to communicate clearly, engage decision-makers, and challenge barriers affecting persons with disabilities.”
“I also learned about the different models of disability and now understand how to advocate for disability justice using the social model. These skills have been essential to the work I continue to do through my own initiative and to the impact we have created in my community.”
“I want to encourage other young people with disabilities to join spaces like the Leadership Academy. Make the most of every opportunity and let the knowledge and skills you gain be reflected in the positive change you create in your own communities.”
FIND OUT MORE
MEET THE 2025 GLOBAL DISABILITY Leadership ACADEMY FELLOWS.
Meet our first group of academy participants that participated in the pilot. They each share about their projects, what they are passionate about.
Jerry’s story
Jerry Okiki is a disability justice leader and activist from Kenya. He is also part of the 2025 cohort of the Global Disability Leadership Academy.