In our previous newsletter we informed you about the blended learning course on advocacy for disability rights developed by the Liliane Foundation.

Katalemwa Cheshire Home for Rehabilitation services Uganda was delighted to host the Face to Face 5 days’ workshop as part of this blended learning course this November 2018.

After 6 weeks of e-learning, 5 Strategic Partner Organizations from Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana participated in the face-to-face workshop with 11 Advocate representatives, joined by 2 facilitators from Liliane Fonds Netherlands (Learning facilitator and Adviser lobby and Advocacy). Key issues highlighted in this workshop were; the role of evidence in advocacy, influencing right’s bearers to implement policies, involvement of right’s holders, organizational capacities, dealing with power and interest of stakeholders.

In the course of the week, we had presentations by Joy for Children (NGO) that focuses on Advocacy and Action for children; they shared about their advocacy initiatives, successes, challenges and lessons learnt. Participants also had a field visit to a DPO - National Union of Women with Disabilities, The Executive Director shared with the team their Advocacy approaches; Media involvement, engagement of politician’s vs ministry technical staff and involvement of the Persons with Disability during Advocacy.

It was such a busy week but also edifying for participants, thus SPOs developed an Advocacy work plan. The areas of focus for these plans were; Accessibility of schools to children with disabilities, reduction of family neglect for children with cerebral palsy and provision of assistive devices to children with disabilities.