Stigma against people with disabilities
In Uganda, people with mental and physical disabilities face severe discrimination and stigma, often viewed as a curse from God. Many believe that having a child with a disability is a punishment for the parents. As a result, these children are frequently isolated and kept at home out of shame. Fathers may abandon their families, leaving mothers to work and care for their disabled children. It's common for mothers to tie their children to prevent them from wandering. This discrimination leads to poverty, exclusion, and limited access to healthcare and education, hindering their opportunities for a full life.
About the Embrace Disability Campaign
Education about having a disability is important in Uganda, because there is a lot of ignorance about the origin or having a disability. Many people believe that a disability is caused by spirits or as a punishment from God. By providing information about the origin of a disability and that people with a disability have the same rights as any other person, we change the perspective on a more inclusive future for these people.
My 6 months research and photography work led to the creation of the Embrace Disability awareness campaign in Uganda, launched in August 2024. During this campaign launch, we covered the 8 largest cities with campaign posters and organized a parade for the rights of people with disabilities. After the parade, a woman with a physical disability approached me. Her message was very impactful - she said that our campaign had a significant boost in her self-confidence. She encouraged me to keep moving forward with our efforts.
We provide information by distributing posters and flyers and by actively outreach in villages, schools, hospitals and institutions. Spread across Uganda, we now have eight teams that teach in villages, schools, hospitals and institutions about having a disability. During educational programs, we explain that having a disability is not a curse from spirits, but has a physical reason. During the community outreach, people are given the opportunity to ask questions to a social worker specialized in disability who works in that specific area of Uganda. And if necessary, they can receive additional visits from a social worker.
Information booklets
Alongside our current campaign materials, we plan to create an information booklet that schools and hospitals can use to launch their own campaigns for greater inclusion of people with disabilities.
This booklet is especially important for hospitals in Uganda, where doctors often do not provide thorough explanations to mothers who have just given birth. By offering more information about disabilities, we can help these mothers understand better.
Our goal is to distribute these booklets to as many hospitals and schools across the country as possible.
Impact
Measuring the impact of an awareness campaign can be challenging, but every person whose perspective shifts as a result of education and advocacy helps move society toward greater inclusivity.
Pastor Fred Alimet shared, “Yesterday, our team visited the village of Gweri. Over the years, Marijn, Ivan, and I have met with many families of children with disabilities. During these visits, we've shared important information about disabilities with different communities. This time, I was thrilled to see a positive change for these children.
Just a year ago, Veronica, who is 19, was confined to her home, locked up and restrained with a rope. Now, she is free and active in society, and her smile is brighter than ever. This transformation happened because of the right education: disability is not a curse. That's why this work is essential.”
Help
In order to successfully continue our efforts in creating a more inclusive society, it is essential that we receive support from individuals who truly understand the significance of this work. What we can do with your help:
- With your support we can print campaign material. Posters and flyers are great for getting the word out. You can hang these posters in specific places around the country. You can also hand out flyers on the street. Additionally, consider giving them to social workers, schools, hospitals, libraries, and churches in different towns and cities.
- We create lasting change for people with disabilities and their communities. We aim to make and print helpful information booklets to create more education in communities, at schools, hospitals, about people with disabilities.
- Creating and training teams of people across various districts helps share important information with schools, institutions, and hospitals.
- With your support, our team of social workers can conduct monthly outreach programs in different villages.
Together, we can bring about the changes needed to ensure that every person feels valued and included in our society. Your support can make a real difference in this vital journey.