Promotion of rights and inclusion of Children and Young People with Disability project

Since Rwanda ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2008, good progress has been made in protecting the rights of PWDs through legislative reform and programme design. The establishment of the NCPD has been a key milestone in the disability sector as were the commitments to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that addressed multiple dimensions of the pledge to leave ‘no one behind. However, insufficient budget and weak technical approaches are still handicapping the ministry strategic plans to mainstream the disability. According to the Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey; EICV 5, around 4% of the Rwandan population aged 5 years and above reported having a disability. These People are among the most marginalized groups in facing social and economic barriers ranging from exclusion to lack of services and opportunities.

SOS Children’s village Rwanda with its sub-grantee the Association Generale des Handicapes du Rwanda (AGHR) and SOS Italy are implementing a Children and Young People with Disabilities (C&YWDs) project in the District of Musanze, Kayonza, Nyagatare, and Rubavu to promote the rights and inclusion of 500 children and youth with disabilities through strengthening social and economic living conditions parenting care, psychological issues, unemployment.

The project’s objective is to improve knowledge and skills to caregivers to care and support children and youth with disabilities (CYWD), strengthen knowledge and skills of CYWD to actively participate and influence decision making on matters affecting CYWD lives, boost entrepreneurial and employability skills of young people with disabilities, expand capacity of community childcare structures, para-social workers and teachers to respond to psychosocial needs of CYWD, enhance access to new income generating opportunities to the vulnerable caregivers and parents of CYWDs, improve key Government childcare agents and CSO representatives’ awareness on disability policies knowledge and rights of PWDs , develop teachers’ knowledge and skills on inclusive learning principles.