A Future Shaped by Disabled Leaders.
Disabled people are already leading change across Africa and Asia — building livelihoods, challenging discrimination and shaping the decisions that affect their lives.
We support disabled activists and organisations with the resources and opportunities they need to lead change on their own terms.
Meet Racheal.
From a childhood passion to a thriving tailoring business.
Growing up in Ghana, Racheal loved watching people sew clothes. As a young girl, she began making her own clothes and dreamed of becoming a tailor.
She tried other jobs, but tailoring was what she truly wanted to pursue.
Through the Women’s Wing of the Ghana National Association for the Deaf, Racheal received skills training and support to develop her tailoring business. She was also supported to access government funding, which enabled her to buy a sewing machine and grow her business.
Since getting her machine, Racheal has attracted more clients and built an income that helps support herself and her family.
Being deaf has not stopped her from building her business. She has found her own ways to communicate with clients, including writing notes and using gestures.
And her success has changed how people in her community see her.
“People’s perception about me in my community has completely changed. My skill in tailoring is really good and when they see my work, they get surprised that it’s a deaf person doing it. Because of that, people respect me in the community just like any other person.”
Racheal
Racheal’s story shows what can happen when disabled people have the resources and opportunity to build on their own skills, ambitions and ideas.
But Racheal also has a message for funders:
“People with disabilities should be given the chance to lead and decide how funds are spent.”
Racheal
What Your Support Can Make Possible.
Racheal’s story is one example of what can happen when disabled people have access to resources and the power to shape their own futures.
Your support can help disability justice leaders and organisations:
- Lead – Create the skills, confidence and networks to influence decisions and lead change.
- Grow – Grow disability-led organisations so they can become more sustainable and effective.
- Create – Develop livelihoods, campaigns, initiatives and solutions shaped by their own priorities.
- Influence – Challenge discrimination, change systems and ensure disabled people’s voices are heard in decisions that affect their lives.
Changing Who Holds The Power.
At ADD International, we believe the people most affected by inequality should have the power and resources to create change in their own communities.
That’s why we provide flexible funding and leadership support to disability justice activists and organisations across Africa and Asia. This enables disabled leaders to decide their own priorities, strengthen their organisations and lead change from the ground up.
We don’t believe disabled people need others to decide what is best for them. We believe they should have the resources and power to decide for themselves.
And the results can reach far beyond one person.
Meet More Disabled Leaders Creating Change.
Cebile: turning leadership into community action.
Cebile is a disability justice leader and activist from Eswatini. Before joining ADD International’s Global Disability Leadership Academy, she says she had the desire and lived experience to create change but lacked the practical skills and knowledge to advocate effectively.
Through the Academy, she gained leadership and advocacy skills, mentorship and confidence to turn her ideas into action.
She created the Disability Inclusion Talk Show, giving disabled people a space to share their experiences and raise issues affecting their lives.
When one participant shared how poor roads were making it difficult for him to get from his home to the bus stop, Cebile and others raised the issue with local authorities. The roads were subsequently improved, making it easier for disabled people in the community to move around, access essential services and participate in community life.
“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.”
Cebile
Sophia: when flexible funding strengthens organisations.
Sophia leads Peace Life for Persons with Disability Foundation (PLPDF), a disability-led organisation in Tanzania supporting women and girls with disabilities to take up leadership roles and access education and livelihood opportunities.
Through the Disability Justice Fund for Women, PLPDF received flexible funding that allowed them to invest in their organisation — strengthening governance, financial systems and leadership.
The stronger systems helped PLPDF secure additional funding from UMATI and enabled them to support more women with disabilities to participate in advocacy and decision-making spaces.
“Unlike many grants that focus on short-term activities, this one supports organisational growth, leadership, and sustainability. It values our lived experience and allows us to set our own priorities.”
Sophia
Your Gift Can Help Create a Future Shaped by Disabled Leaders.
Across Africa and Asia, disabled people are already creating change.
Your gift can help more leaders and disability-led organisations access the resources, skills and opportunities they need to:
- Pursue their own ambitions
- Strengthen their organisations
- Grow their movements
- Influence decisions
- Challenge discrimination
- Create lasting change in their communities
And right now, your gift could go twice as far.
Thanks to our generous matching supporters, every £1 you give could become £2, until the £8,650 matched fund has been used.
Will you make your matched gift today?
Donate now
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FIND OUT MORE
JERRY’S STORY
Through the Global Disability Leadership Academy, Jerry developed his leadership and advocacy skills and used them to grow his initiative, Missing Voices.
2026 AUTUMN IMPACT REPORT
The 2026 Autumn Impact Report shares what your support is helping make possible, highlighting the leadership, action and change driven by disability justice activists across Africa and Asia.