Health Equity for All: Advocating for Persons with Disabilities

At Intwari Foundation, we believe that health is a human right—and no one should be left behind. That’s why we actively advocate for accessible, quality, and equitable health care services for persons with disabilities across Rwanda.

Our Mission:

  1. Inclusive ducation from Primary to Tertiary Levels

What we do:

  • Train teachers in inclusive pedagogy.
  • Advocate for universal access to assistive learning materials (e.g. braille books, audio content, inclusive digital platforms).
  • Provide scholarships or bursaries for students with disabilities to reduce financial barriers to continued education.
  • Partner with universities and technical schools to accommodate students with special needs through assistive tech, mentoring, and psychosocial support.

Why it matters: Dropout rates for children with disabilities are high due to stigma, lack of adapted materials, and inaccessible school infrastructure.

 

  1. Vocational Training & Economic Empowerment

What we do:

  • Run customized vocational training in tailoring, ICT, crafts, agriculture, and maintenance—based on disability types and local market needs.
  • Partner with TVET institutions to develop inclusive learning models and offer disability-sensitive trainers.
  • Provide start-up kits, seed funding, or microloans for self-employment.
  • Create cooperatives for joint income-generating activities.

Why it matters: Persons with disabilities often face unemployment and limited skills development options. Empowering them economically fosters independence and dignity.

  1. Promote Digital Skills and Employment Inclusion

What we do:

  • Offer basic and intermediate digital skills training (e.g., computer use, typing, mobile tools).
  • Prepare candidates for remote work and inclusive hiring programs.
  • Engage employers in disability inclusion awareness and create accessible workspaces.
  • Support internships and job placements in partnership with government, NGOs, and the private sector.

Why it matters: Technology opens new paths for employment, especially for people who may be limited by mobility or location.

  1. Health Services & Assistive Devices

What we do:

  • Work with partners to import, produce, or distribute assistive devices such as wheelchairs, white canes, hearing aids, and prosthetics.
  • Train health workers on inclusive primary care, rehabilitation, and mental health support.
  • Run community outreach clinics for health screenings and needs assessments.

Why it matters: Many people cannot afford or access essential devices and inclusive healthcare. This limits their ability to move, communicate, or live independently.

  1. Family and Community Engagement

What we do:

  • Organize family counseling, awareness campaigns, and dialogue groups to combat stigma.
  • Establish community disability support groups to exchange resources and offer mutual support.
  • Train community health workers and local leaders on inclusion, rights, and disability etiquette.

Why it matters: Families and communities are the first line of support. Educating and empowering them strengthens inclusion from the ground up.

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