Celebrating Role Models in Disability Inclusion

Towards dignified and fulfilling work for young women and men with disabilities

Championing Change

Two young women sit at a desk in an open floor plan office talking and laughing together
I am Benrose Motethya, a Kenyan born, raised, and schooled in Nairobi, so I am a true city girl. Growing up in the vibrant hustle of Nairobi shaped me a lot. I studied project management because I wanted to learn how to plan and deliver real impact. Right now, I am a program facilitator at Sndbx. I joined through the (Mastercard Foundation) Associates Program, and it has been a journey
A young Ethiopian man sits on a stool in his shop smiling and shining another man's shoes
My name is Efrem Balcha. I’m 24 years old and I live in Bodity Town, Ethiopia. I’m a husband and a proud father of three beautiful children. My life has been shaped by both hardship and resilience, and today I want to share my journey—a journey of transformation, learning, and hope.
Maryanne, a UX Designer, she has a broad smile
I am Emomeri Maryanne and I possess diverse skills. First, I am an assistive device innovator, a UX designer, a cybersecurity professional, a social innovator who teaches children on the intersection between disability and innovation and a self-published author. Currently, I am the communications assistant at United Disabled Persons of Kenya. “My first interaction with computers was in secondary school….(it) opened my eyes to the endless possibilities tech presented”
Woman with headphones working on a laptop at a desk, focused on her task in a professional setting.
My name is Nina Okorafor. I am a civil servant. I work with the Department of Social Welfare and in disability rehabilitation at the Accra Rehabilitation Centre. “I got involved in disability advocacy because I studied social work. I got to understand a lot of what the disability issues in Ghana look like.”
Man smiling while standing among tall green corn plants in a field.
Twenty-nine-year-old Tonny works as Chief Security Officer at DWA, a horticultural farm in Kibwezi. By profession, he is an electrical engineer. To Tonny, joining the farm as a security person was just a gateway to work in the engineering department. With his skill set, he hopes that one day, he will be able to realise his dream of working as an engineer. His journey towards securing his dream career has,
Robert in an office with two other man, one of them is using sign language to communicate
Just 25 kilometers from Kampala in Busukuma division, Robert Ssewagudde visits his home district for the first time since being sworn in as a local councilor for people with disabilities in his community. He is eager to begin the hard work of being an advocate for inclusion and ensuring that government funding for people with disabilities reaches those who need it most. His excitement to start is palpable as he