Ahoada West, Rivers State – June 2025
In a major step toward advancing disability rights in underserved communities, FAECARE Foundation has launched an intensive one-day advocacy training for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) at the Akinima Town Hall, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The event, which took place in June 2025, is part of the organization’s ongoing Disability Rights Initiative Project: Rural Rivers (DRIP:RR). A total of 22 participants—including 14 Persons with Disabilities, peer mentors, the project’s technical adviser, and other key team members—were in attendance.
The training was designed to empower rural PWDs by enhancing their awareness of their rights, building grassroots advocacy skills, addressing harmful stereotypes, and encouraging inclusive policy implementation at the local level.
"Disability Is Not a Curse" — FAECARE Sets the Record Straight
Program Officer Faith Amadi addressed a long-standing challenge in rural communities: the cultural stigma that wrongly labels disability as a curse. “Such misconceptions have led to generations of discrimination and exclusion,” she said. “Our goal is to change that narrative from the inside out.”
Her colleague, Emmanuel Ogbemudia, also a Program Officer, shared FAECARE Foundation’s broader mission of adding value to vulnerable populations through impactful humanitarian programs like DRIP:RR. He emphasized the importance of sustainable, community-driven change.
Legal Expert Leads Rights-Based Training
Dr. Obraori Peters, a legal expert and the project’s Technical Adviser, led key sessions on disability rights—starting with the basics: the definition of disability, types of disabilities, and the legal protections enshrined in the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
Participants took part in interactive sessions where they identified derogatory terms commonly used to describe PWDs in their communities and learned respectful, empowering alternatives. The training also covered fundamental rights, including:
- Access to education and healthcare
- Employment opportunities
- Inclusive transportation
- Participation in public life and governance
From Dialogue to Action: Next Steps
The training concluded with a planning session where participants outlined the next phase of action. These include:
- A community awareness campaign at the local market
- Targeted advocacy visits to community leaders, including the traditional ruler (king) of Ahoada West
- Roundtable discussions involving local stakeholders to promote inclusive development
Backed by the Disability Rights Fund
Supported by the Disability Rights Fund, FAECARE Foundation is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind. The DRIP:RR project continues to bridge the gap between policy and practice by empowering rural communities with the knowledge and tools to advocate for themselves.
This latest initiative sends a strong message: Disability rights are human rights—and rural voices matter
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