Support Community Organisations Working for Disability Justice.
Around the world, disability justice activists, groups and organisations are leading the change they want to see for a more just and inclusive world. They know best how to work with and in their own communities to make real and lasting change, and support each other to thrive. But they need funding and support.
Bwera United Women with Disabilities Association (BUDWA) is one such organisation. Bwera is a town in Western Uganda, on the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The community is remote and has experienced conflict. Disabled children are often excluded from school and adults from
employment and the opportunity to live an independent and dignified life.
BUWDA is a community-based organisation that supports women and girls with disabilities to learn skills, earn money and live free from discrimination and violence. Juliet Mbambu is the founder and leader.
“If given the chance we are positive change makers. As women with disabilities we just want to reach our full potential.”
Juliet
Juliet founded BUDWA, together with four other women with disabilities in the community, over 20 years ago. Their goal was to reduce discrimination and make sure people with disabilities in their community were respected and had the chance to lead the lives they wanted to. Now, they are a community of 30 women with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities, supporting each other to save money and grow their futures.
Hear from Juliet directly about why she co-founded BUDWA and what they do:
Tools for an independent income.
BUDWA’s approach is working, but they need support.
Where the women have learnt a trade, they often need the tools to turn this into a sustainable source of income. For example, Jenipher joined BUDWA and learnt to tailor, but is now looking to purchase a sewing machine to start a small business.
“Before, people looked at me as someone who can’t work. But when I came to BUDWA and learnt some skills they’re now seeing my potential.”
Jenipher
Community works.
BUDWA’s approach is working, and they say that being part of their community and working over time is key to this. Juliet told us, “The community may have a negative attitude at the beginning, but when you begin something like BUDWA and it lasts more than 20 years, they say, these people know what they are doing! And so, we need to amplify our voice, we need to continue.”
These are some of the ways in which BUDWA is supporting women and children with disabilities in their community:
- Educating and supporting parents to make sure children with disabilities access education.
- Community dialogue meetings to educate and advocate for an end to discrimination against people with disabilities.
- ‘Second Chance Education’ – training courses for women with disabilities who were left out of school to learn skills to earn money.
- Promoting immunizations for mothers of young children to avoid illnesses like polio.
- Peace and mediation – working with families to resolve conflict and make sure people with disabilities are respected, understood and heard in their families.
- Hosting a savings and credit group to protect people with disabilities from emergencies like having nothing to eat and support them to earn.
Donate now.
Please support the incredible work of community groups like BUDWA, run by and for people with disabilities in Africa and Asia.
hear from the members of budwa
juliet
Read Juliet’s story of starting BUDWA and why the community-based approach is working.
biira
Read Biira’s story of joining BUDWA, and why she wants to share what she has learnt.
jenipher
Hear how Jenipher learnt a new skill and her plans to earn money from tailoring.