We collaborated with Dr. Wendy Parent-Johnson, a specialist in model development, inclusive education, and supported employment, to establish a model for the development of the Twezimbe for Inclusion.

We then collaborated with Wendy on the Outbound Fellowship funded by the U.S. Department of State and overseen by the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Wendy, who was then the Executive Director of the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, along with Sonoran staff conducted an outbound training for disability leaders, entrepreneurs, and small business owners with disabilities and their caregivers in Uganda. The outbound training laid the foundation and infrastructure for development, replication, and sustainability of Twezimbe Project for Inclusion.

We then created the “Journeys to Inclusion” series, helping young advocates learn from best advocacy practices of foremost disability advocates around the world through virtual campaigns. We used the “Journeys to Inclusion” series to better understand. We used the “Journeys to Inclusion” series to better understand effective advocacy strategies and to foster a global dialogue on inclusion and disability rights.

We have now partnered again with the Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (VCURRTC) through Wendy, who is currently the Executive Director. In collaboration with Kyambogo University Faculty of Special Needs and Professor Augustus Nuwagaba, an economics professor at Makerere University, we are piloting the Employment-First Policy and Practice course. This course examines the evolution of the Employment-First policy in the U.S. and explores how it could be adapted or adopted to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities elsewhere, such as in Uganda.

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• Intentional Mainstreaming of Disability: We urge the U.S. Embassy to be deliberate in integrating disability considerations into all priority diplomatic areas. Disability rights are human rights, and mainstreaming these considerations is crucial for achieving equity and justice for all.
• Active Participation in Decision-Making: Youths with disabilities deserve a seat at the decision-making table. Their voices and perspectives are essential for shaping policies and initiatives that affect their lives. We call for the inclusion of youths with disabilities in all relevant discussions and decision-making processes.
• Employment Opportunities: Persons with disabilities in Uganda are educated, talented, and capable of contributing significantly to various sectors. We encourage the U.S. Embassy to lead by example by recruiting those qualified and demonstrating the value of inclusive employment practices.
• Access to Grants: Affirmative support for youths with disabilities in accessing grants is a critical move toward equity. Providing these opportunities will enable us to launch focused initiatives, support community development, and foster entrepreneurship, leading to broader societal benefits.

After the event, the U.S. Mission in Uganda tweeted, emphasizing the significance of inclusivity and accessibility in sports, highlighting blind football as an example. The Twitter post read:

“Did you know you can play football even if visually impaired? Today, U.S. Ambassador William W. Popp attended a blind football match @OfficialMubs to celebrate inclusivity in sports! Thanks to the U.S. Exchange Disability Inclusion Alumni Network – Uganda for promoting disability-inclusive development.”

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The Professional Fellows Congress program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by World Learning and the Global Leaders Division in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the U.S. Department of State. World Learning, a nonprofit organization founded in 1932 and headquartered in Washington, DC and Brattleboro, Vermont, is the grantee organization for this program.

With over 2,000 fellows, World Learning has awarded approximately 40 Professional Fellows Program Alumni Impact Award (AIA) winners since its establishment. AIA winners are selected based on who best demonstrates their experience as a professional fellow, contributed to their efforts in making a positive impact in their home community, and exemplify outstanding leadership qualities.

This recognition comes at a time when Harunah and his mentor, Dr. Wendy Parent-Johnson, are leading efforts towards fostering inclusive employment as a national movement in Uganda. They have launched a professional course on Employment-First Policy and Practice, a collaboration between Virginia Commonwealth univeristy Rehabilitation Research and Training Centre (VCURRTC), United Persons with Disabilities and Kyambogo University Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation (FSNR). Harunah acts as a collaborative liaison, facilitating quality partnerships between these great institutions.

Harunah’s prior engagements with his mentor, Dr. Parent-Johnson, include winning the Professional Fellows Program Outbound Award. This award supported Dr. Parent-Johnson in delivering training on best practices in self-employment for disability leaders in Uganda. Harunah has also worked with Dr. Parent-Johnson to organize the ‘Journeys to Inclusion’ series, an innovative campaign strategy focusing on disability inclusion with lessons from the U.S. In this series, disability subject matter experts, professionals and individuals with lived experiences shared insights on proactive disability advicacy with Ugandan disability leaders. The series attracted professionals from topnotch institutions in the U.S, including the University of Arizona, Harvard University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the World Institute on Disability.

Harunah and his team have harnessed lessons from these engagements into a national movement building strategy to inspire widespread advocacy and policy changes to foster greater inclusivity for persons with disabilities in Uganda. Harunah’s role as a facilitator has been particularly instrumental in bridging the gap between local initiatives and global expertise, ensuring that best practices are shared and implemented effectively to create lasting impact.

To that end, the U.S. Department of State has awarded Harunah the prestigious Professional Fellows Program Alumni Impact Award in recognition of his noble work uplifting people with disabilities in our setting, a group he identifies with.

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The Next Generation Leaders (NGL) program, sponsored by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented by the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities at Tufts University, centers on young leaders from diverse global backgrounds. This initiative gathers civically engaged students to explore the university’s purpose and value, emphasizing public deliberation as a structured approach to fostering productive discourse on confronting societal challenges.

These young leaders’ latest development, the For Youth By Youth movement, reflects their aspirations to shape the future. They have taken proactive steps by initiating partnerships with their respective universities, recognizing this as a pivotal initial stride in bringing their shared vision to fruition.

Two Next Generation Leaders, Harunah Damba and Patrovas Okidi from Makerere University in Uganda, had the pleasure of presenting the plaque to their university Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe. The plaque, awarded by the Mastercard Foundation in partnership with the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities, recognizes the Vice Chancellor’s contributions to shaping Makerere University as a civically engaged institution. These young leaders used the opportunity to share their visions with the University Vice Chancellor, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration and innovation in fostering student-led initiatives and community engagement.

Read more about the For Youth By Youth movement here.

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Aminah has harbored a long-standing dream of being a leader, a dream that became even more challenging due to misfortunes in her childhood. Having lost both of her parents at a tender age, hardship and adversity were consistent companions early in her life. She faced daily challenges, from fending for herself to acquiring an education.

Despite the hurdles, Aminah persevered and learned the power of hard work and resilience at a young age. She struggled with her education, progressing from primary to secondary and eventually to university.

Despite the hurdles, Aminah persevered and learned the power of hard work and resilience at a young age. She struggled with her education, progressing from primary to secondary and eventually to university.

Becoming the president of the Uganda Youth Coalition for SDGs

The year 2023 stands as a testament to Aminah’s leadership aspirations, marking her historic election as the inaugural female president to helm the Uganda Youth Coalition for SDGs. She said,

“As I go down in history as the first elected female President of the Uganda Youth Coalition for Sustainable Development Goals, I am thrilled to embark on a transformative journey with an unwavering commitment to ignite change and lead our nation and coalition toward a more sustainable future.”

The Uganda Youth Coalition for SDGs emerged from the collective aspirations of passionate young individuals, like Aminah, who recognize the urgency of addressing global challenges outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since its inception in 2019, the coalition has grown into a vibrant community of like-minded youth, each driven by a shared vision of a Uganda where every youth voice is central in reforming and shaping strategies for achieving sustainable development. During an interview with the UPDS Newsletter, Aminah revealed that,

“We, the youth, our diversity is our strength, and within this diversity, we find the innovative ideas and collective strengths needed to address the multifaceted challenges facing our nation.”

Aminah’s presidency is dedicated to creating an environment where every young person can contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and she will be guided by six fundamental principles: inclusive leadership, member empowerment, advocacy for environmental stewardship, strategic collaborative networking, transparency and accountable leadership, and a dedicated focus on knowledge and skills development. With these principles, she emphasized that they are the bedrock of a dynamic and competitive leadership approach that will propel the coalition to new heights during her tenure.

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The purpose of the meeting was to share experiences and reflections from their recent participation in the One Young World summit held in Belfast, United Kingdom, from October 2 to 5, and to discuss ways to continue working together. Participants shared their perceptions of UK culture and how it has evolved since their summit participation. Harunah remarked,

“The summit came at a time when our political atmosphere was infused with debates, especially regarding LGBTQI issues in Uganda. Flying in from Uganda, a country under international scrutiny for its stance on LGBTQI matters, I initially thought I would face an unwelcoming atmosphere. Contrary to these assumptions, my time in the UK offered a stark contrast between mainstream media narratives and the actual reality on the ground. This revelation has become a central theme in my role as an ambassador, as I now share with others that the UK is not as depicted in the media but a place of acceptance, understanding, and welcoming.”

Amb. Dr. Karin Boven revealed that the Netherlands has substantial investments in Uganda, with an annual budget of approximately 100 million euros, and expressed her confidence in Uganda as a role model for many others. She stated,

“We have a huge budget of about 100 million euros per year, and this is because Uganda is a long-term friend to the Netherlands. We believe in supporting Uganda because we consider it a role model for many countries.”

The ambassador emphasized the growing significance of climate change, particularly in the present times, and the need for more concerted and inclusive efforts. She expressed hope for arranging discussions or dialogues in The Hague and inviting the OYW ambassadors to participate in such events.

“Climate, as you know, is becoming increasingly important, especially now. We could invite you to The Hague to share insights or debate some of these critical issues. These initiatives are very important because they keep us focused and informed,” Amb. Dr. Karin Boven concluded.

These young stars also had the opportunity to meet Ambassador Katie Airey, the Ambassador of the British High Commission to Uganda, to share their experiences as One Young World ambassadors and to foster a cordial working relationship while seeking support for their grassroots initiatives.

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As someone who had faced countless setbacks in securing employment, I had always harbored the dream of starting my own business. Yet, as a social science graduate, I encountered numerous barriers, particularly in understanding microfinance. I struggled with limited financial literacy and a lack of knowledge about various financial products. This hindered my ability to qualify for loans, potentially depriving me of the opportunity to kick-start my entrepreneurial journey.

Joining the United Persons with Disabilities (UPDS) proved to be a turning point in my life. Through expert-facilitated training sessions, I gained invaluable knowledge in financial literacy including vetting lenders and developing responsible financial habits. Motivated by the valuable lessons I learned and the constant encouragement from my peers, I embarked on my entrepreneurial dream.

Through the launch of the Twezimbe project, which organized us into a cooperative, I secured a microcredit that I utilized to establish my own vegetable garden on an unused piece of family land. Specializing in high-demand crops such as tomatoes and greens, my business not only caters to my personal needs but also paves the way for advancing my studies and supporting my siblings.

Looking back, I am indebted to my comrade, Mr. Harunah Damba, whose unwavering dedication swiftly mobilized us to join the project. His persuasive communication skills, emphasizing the profound benefits of joining UPDS and its pivotal role in our development and empowerment, inspired me to become a member, a decision I will never regret.

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