Musab Abdul Rahim is a graduate and active community member in Gedaref, Sudan. Despite being born with a physical disability, he has never let it hinder his ambitions. His involvement with the WaA! programme, has been transformative, enabling him to become a successful entrepreneur and community leader.
Musab learned about the WaA! programme through the Union of Persons with Disabilities, which motivated him to attend several meetings, where he gained understanding of WaA!’s goals and opportunities. The focus on capacity-strengthening was particularly appealing to him. A pivotal moment in Musab’s journey was attending a workshop on entrepreneurship in 2021, which provided him with essential knowledge about starting and managing a business. Inspired by the workshop, Musab started a catering business, initially providing meals for the activities organised by the WaA! programme.
With support from both WaA! and governmental authorities, Musab formalized his business, obtaining the health and commercial licenses for free as a disabled person. This decision from public authorities 15 came as result of WaA! continuous advocacy with local government to facilitate business development for disabled persons. His business, “Cafeteria Wad Al-Qatar,” has grown significantly. He now provides catering services to various organisations, including Mercy Corps and NRC. This business has not only improved its financial stability but also created job opportunities for three other workers.
Musab’s success extends beyond economic empowerment. He has become a prominent advocate for the rights of disabled persons. His interactions with government institutions and the private sector have led to improved accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities. For example, Musab’s bank, Bank of Khartoum, had gates inaccessible to persons with physical disabilities. After several meetings with the bank’s director, Musab successfully advocated for change and the director issued a decision to allow persons with disabilities to use the private gates, which are more accessible. Musab also is the representative of persons with disabilities in a committee established by the Poverty Reduction Department within the Ministry of Social Welfare. Meetings were held in an inaccessible office on the second floor. However, through a continuous dialogue, Musab convinced the director to understand and recognize disability rights, leading to a decision to relocate all meetings to an accessible venue.
Moreover, Musab is actively involved in several community organisations. He is a founding member of the Emergency Room in Gedaref, which provided vital support to disabled IDPs during the April 2023 conflict. His leadership roles as the head of the Civic Education Dialogue Network in Gedaref, project director at the Youth of Knowledge Association, and active member of CSO networks, have advanced disability inclusion in community-led initiatives. Through his successful business, Musab has significantly contributed to changing perceptions about disability in his community, demonstrating that persons with disabilities can run and grow their own businesses effectively. His journey has challenged stereotypes and highlighted the economic contributions of persons with disabilities. It has led to personal growth and stability, enabling him to purchase a car and a Raksha for business use and to support two displaced relatives during the conflict.
Musab’s journey with the WaA! program is a testament to the transformative power of knowledge, economic empowerment, engagement of civil society and public authorities, and social inclusion. His story illustrates how targeted support, and training can enable persons with disabilities to overcome barriers, achieve economic independence, and become influential advocates for their communities.
Photo Credit: Mohammed Gaafar (ADF-Sudan)