Yesterday was an incredible day of learning and action at the GESI Disability Inclusion Forum in Malawi! More than a hundred people including government leaders, disabled persons organizations, disability inclusion experts, and project implementers from around the world shared challenges, innovative solutions, and best practices to equip and support children and youth with disabilities in fragile contexts. After a keynote address from Jean Sendeza, Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare for the Republic of Malawi, participants dove into sessions packed with evidence-based learnings and impactful and sustainable disability inclusion programs and approaches from around the world—starting with World Vision’s Able to Thrive program in Malawi: 🔸 Able to Thrive, implemented by World Vision Malawi, is an innovative project aiming to enhance the well-being of 10,000 children and youth with disabilities through improved case management, access to services, and community empowerment. The program integrates education, health, WASH, and livelihoods programming to address the diverse needs of children and youth with disabilities. 🔸 Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA), a key partner in Able to Thrive, shared insights and approaches in supporting education on the new disability act and mobilizing its staff and volunteers to support case management for children with disabilities. 🔸 Additional sessions featured youth participants, who presented their experiences and recommendations, to the Ministry of Gender, Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA), and MACODA shared successful approaches to better include the voices of youth and persons with disabilities in programming. Youth also shared the photographs they took during a workshop last week, which highlighted issues of importance to them. 🔸 Participants also heard from experts who shared challenges of disability inclusion in emergency response, how to enhance WASH and livelihoods in fragile contexts, and how to integrate disability inclusion into #environmentalsustainability. 🔸 During afternoon breakout sessions, participants delved deeper into topics such as inclusive education, WASH and nutrition, rehabilitation services, and effective training on disability inclusion. Thank you to all the donors, experts, and participants for making this event a success! By sharing our learnings and innovative approaches, we are building and supporting more inclusive practices in development work globally. Learn about many of these practices and programs on our webpage at https://lnkd.in/gjZ2XRvY #innovation #sustanability #disabilityinclusion
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Thought provoking sessions on disability programming
What a great first day at the GESI Disability Inclusion Forum!
Thank you Edward Winter for your leadership efforts in bringing attention to this most critical issue of #disabilityinclusion #innovation #GESI
Huge congratulations on this forum to World Vision USA, Edward Winter Zayid Douglas and Malawi #GESI and #disabilityinclusion leaders! 👏🏾
Commication Expert
1moAs someone with a physically challenged uncle who was educated and supported by my grandfather, I can attest to the importance of inclusive efforts. Today, my uncle is a vital member of our family, showing that with the right support, people with disabilities can make significant contributions to society. I deeply appreciate the work of World Vision Malawi and partners like MACODA in creating inclusive and supportive environments for children and youth with disabilities. Kudos to all the participants, experts, and donors for their dedication to building more inclusive practices globally. Looking forward to learning more from your shared experiences and successes!