Activists' Stories
Activists' Stories.
Read stories from the frontline of disability activism in Africa and Asia, spanning some of the different thematic areas where we focus.
Millions of disabled people face a life of poverty and exclusion.
Right now, we are supporting disability activists working to tackle discrimination and ensure every disabled person gets a fighting chance at living their best life.
HOW WE SUPPORT ACTIVISTS IN 3 STEPS
1. Listen
Our work begins as a conversation. Disability activists tell us the change they want to make and what they need to make it happen.
2. Tailored support
Together we develop a package of long term support to help activists access the tools and resources they need to make change happen.
3. Building movements
We help organisations of disability activists build links with each other and build movements with unstoppable momentum.
Get to know some of the remarkable activists that we partner with.
Strengthening Organisations
Kaddush, Bangladesh
Kaddush is visually impaired. For a long time he was ashamed and isolated, but he now leads an organisation of over 4,000 disabled members fighting for disability equality.
HIV and Disability in Uganda.
What is it like to live with HIV and have a disability in Uganda? MADIPHA is the first organisation of its kind in Uganda, dedicated to supporting people with disability and HIV.
Arefa, Bangladesh.
Arefa used to have negative attitudes towards disabled people until she became disabled herself. She didn't leave her house for 5 years, but meeting and working with other disability activists has transformed her life.
Shamim, Bangladesh
COVID-19: Voices from the field.
When you meet 28-year-old Shamim, you know he is a person full of drive and passion to help others. Starting out as a young activist he has been fighting for the rights of disabled people in Bogura, Bangladesh for over fifteen years and has been on the frontline of COVID-19 response work.
Peter, Uganda
Frontline Activist
Peter is an albinism activist in Uganda where there are still many myths attached to albinism, including that persons with albinism are cursed, are punishments from the gods, are ghosts, have supernatural powers, or do not die.
Women's Empowerment
Sabina, Bangladesh
Sabina is one of the only female disability activists in her area: shunned by her village as a child she is now an award winning community leader.
Minnie, Bangladesh
Minnie is a disability activist working for women's rights in Bangladesh. In an area where disabled women are vulnerable to all forms of violence, Minnie is working to protect and empower her community.
Aun Yoin, Cambodia
Aun Yoin is part of the team, delivering our ‘Promoting the Dignity of Women’ project. So far, Yoin has supported twenty people with disabilities to receive assistive devices and two survivors of violence.
Chhunly, Cambodia
Chhunly has lived with chronic violence for nearly twenty years. Our project team heard about her situation and approached her to join our activism training on violence, gender, power, and human rights.
Pushpa, Bangladesh
"I am Pushpa Rani. I live in South Central Bangladesh. I am 50 years old but I have had to spend my life crawling around like a child." Read how disability activists helped Pushpa re-discover her purpose, value and dignity.
Remembering Blandina Sembu.
Blandina Sembu was a pioneering activist in the women's disability movement in Tanzania. She was a powerful leader and role model to hundreds of thousands of disabled women and girls.
Inclusive Education
Issac, Tanzania
Isaac Idama is a passionate disability activist working to ensure disabled children in Tanzania can access an inclusive education.
Hassani, Tanzania
Disability Activist
Hassani Kambangwa is a proud and passionate disability activist working on securing education for all children in Tanzania. Here he tells us why working on disability rights inspires him.
Meet the project team, Tanzania
Meet the activists, teachers and community members who have helped more disabled children in Tanzania go to school.
employment
Kim Doe, Cambodia
Kim Doe spent years secluded in her house, ashamed to leave because of her disability. A visit from local activists, brought her out of her home and set on her a path to freedom.
Stephen and Christine, Uganda
Meet Stephen and Christine, who have been helped by MADIPHA.