UCF

UWEZO Project

Under advice from Owen Allen (Physiotherapist), and under the leadership of Marius Ziganira, people with disabilities were surveyed and consulted in December 2021. The results are here. In summary, the survey determined about 754 people in Nakivale Base Camp zone had a disability, including people with albinism. It became clear from this survey that there are a number of additional challenges to empowering people with disabilities in entry to the marketplace. Albinism, for example, was concluded to cause the greatest handicap due to the superstition with which they are held and their own shame in appearing in public. The needs of people with disabilities support the establishment of a training centre to improve literacy and teach marketable skills.

Refugees with disabilities in the Nakivale Camp are living from begging at the market, by the side of the road, at the church etc. There are few other opportunities for people with disabilities to complement their small stipend from the UNHCR. They believe they are without a future, have limited means of caring for children, and highly vulnerability in all ways.

UCF intends to develop training programs that will give people with disabilities access to at least one of several occupational fields. A refugee disabilities association submitted to UCF a viable program for occupational skills training - The UWEZO (Abilities)  Project - which requires modest investment but yet to be activated. 

To coincide with On Display Global, a project of the Heidi Latsky Dance Company of New York, UCF has for two years brought a group of 50 people with disabilities into an annual meeting for consultation and participation in On Display Global for having people with disabilities SEEN