The main objectives of the upcoming study visits are exchanging knowledge and mutual learning about how people with disabilities and local governments are overcoming barriers and are able to actively participate in public decision-making.

On Saturday 3 December, we observe the IDPD for the 30th time. This special day was called for by the UN in 1992, because disability inclusion is an essential condition to upholding human rights, peace and sustainable development.

In many communities in Burundi, persons with a disability are often called 'ikimuga'. This word refers not to a person, but to a 'thing'. Something that is broken. This is not the case in Athanasie's family as she is committed to bring change.

Taking away prejudices and creating awareness about the daily challenges of persons with a disability is the first, crucial step for achieving more inclusive local policies. This is what we advocated for at the United Cities and Local Governments World Congress.

On October 10-12, 2022, DCDD organised the kick-off of a 3-year ‘Power of Disability Inclusion’ trajectory for Uganda-based civil society partners of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  This training was organised in collaboration with Light for the World Uganda and SeeYou Foundation, as part of the We Are Able! programme.

In October, I started as the consortium coordinator of We are Able! I have worked for the Dutch NGO Cordaid, where I coordinated a number of advocacy trajectories, mostly on food and agriculture, migration and refugees. Prior to that I have also done advocacy at EU level, working for NGO networks, and also at the level of the United Nations.

On September 12, the annual Regional Learning and Sharing Event for the We are Able! programme took place in Burundi. From seven countries, participants came together for one week to reflect on the past year, share experiences, learn, discover and further develop plans for 2023. All with one mission: to promote disability inclusion.

A delegation of We are Able! was present at the World Urban Forum that took place in Katowice/Poland June 26-30. This international conference was a good opportunity to increase awareness on the need for disability inclusion at different levels and to learn about inclusive governance.

“In Africa, people with disabilities are the poorest of the poor. They happen to be disabled, but poverty is the issue.” Shuaib Chalklen, the CEO of the African Disability Forum, one of the partners of the We are Able! consortium, is deeply motivated to stand up for people with disabilities in Africa.

One year and a half into the project, the We are Able! consortium convened in Utrecht for a series of workshops and presentations. The representatives from all partner organisations reflected on the work of the past months and exchanged plans and ideas for the coming ones.