- 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.
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.
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.
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.
