The We Can Work Program
The We Can Work program improves access to dignified and fulfilling work for young women and men with disabilities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal. In each country, teams of Disability Inclusion Advisors and Facilitators support the development of Mastercard Foundation internal and partner capacity to mainstream disability in all Young Africa Works programs.
The program further deploys targeted skills building and entrepreneurship support interventions for young women and men with disabilities to successfully transition to work. We Can Work is instrumental in realizing the ambitions of Mastercard Foundation in relation to Disability Inclusion.
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“The We Can Work program is a response to the commonly asked question by employers: Can persons with disabilities work? We say ‘Yes, We Can Work’. The ‘We’ are young persons with disabilities who will drive the initiative; supporting mainstream organizations, companies and governments in becoming disability inclusive.”
Ambrose Murangira
Technical Director -
Disability Inclusion Light for the World
Partnerships
We Can Work is implemented in a consortium led by Light for the World, a disability and development organization with over 30 years of experience in disability and livelihoods in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The African Disability Forum (ADF), a key implementing partner, is a membership organization of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in Africa.
Seven National Umbrella OPDs in Ethiopia (Federation of Ethiopian Associations of Persons with Disabilities), Kenya (United Disabled Persons of Kenya), Uganda (National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda), Rwanda (National Union of Disability Organizations of Rwanda), Ghana (Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations), Nigeria (Joint National Association of Persons with Disability), and Senegal (Fédération Sénégalaise des Associations de Personnes Handicapées) are key implementing partners both individually and through their membership to the ADF.
A technical partner – Crosswise Works, also provides support on business development services through Entrepreneurship Support Organizations located in the seven countries.
Changing System and Minds
The program is based on three pillars that equip young persons with disabilitieswith le adership skills, support new and existing Young Africa Works programs on
becoming more disability inclusive, and directly provide skills training to the most marginal of this youth population.
At the foundation of We Can Work are young women and men with disabilities, who are the drivers of change, contributing to all program pillars. The program rolls out the Disability Inclusion Facilitator (DIF) approach, where young women and men with disabilities drive the change process towards a more inclusive society.
Using a tested and competency-based curriculum, networks of young women and men with disabilities are trained and mentored to become certified DIFs. Selfadvocacy and the invaluable life experience that DIFs bring, is an effective way to change mindsets and convey the importance of disability inclusion.
“Being a Disability Inclusion
Facilitator is not just an opportunity to work but also a way that other people – with and without disabilities – can see the potential of persons with disabilities, and what [we] are capable of. In my role, I grow as an individual first, then others will get to change how they look at me.”
Naomi Akwee
Disability Inclusion FacilitatorUganda
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Supporting young women and men with disabilities to become role model economic actors, and bring about system change toward a more inclusive society
- The We Can Work Academy equips young people with disabilities with core life skills training and a choice of employability, technical, entrepreneurship and leadership trainings.
- Youth-driven co-creation processes lead to context-appropriate and scalable solutions to leave no one behind.
Youth with disabilities successfully transition to employment through:
- Linkages to entrepreneurship opportunities, seed capital and markets.
- Facilitated work experience placements and more disability friendly workplaces.
- Access to relevant assistive technology.
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Promoting disability inclusion as part of Young Africa Works strategies, portfolios and interventions, as well as among partner organizations and other system actors
- We Can Work in-country Disability Inclusion Advisory Teams support Mastercard Foundation and Young Africa Works partners on inclusive
budgeting and programming. - Network of Disability Inclusion Facilitators provide coaching and support on disability inclusion to the private sector, civil society, financial, and learning institutions.
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Ensuring meaningful participation of young women and men with disabilities in advocating for inclusive policies and environment.
- Representation of youth with disabilities within Organizations of People with Disabilities, and Youth and Women’s Rights Organizations is boosted.
- Young women and men with disabilities are engaged in meaningful dialogues with key national and regional actors in economic development.
“Youth with disabilities must be involved in advocacy for inclusive
policies and programs because they form a big percentage of the population, and they are the leaders of Tomorrow’s disability movement.“
Robert Ssewagudde
Disability Inclusion Facilitator, and Youth on the Board of NUDIPU (National Union for Disabled Persons of Uganda)
We Can Work Strategic Framework
Partnership for Inclusion
Pan-African Disability Leardership Academy
Disabilty Inclusion Capacity Building
Youth Voice and Community
Disability Budgeting and Mainstreaming
Dignified & fulfilling work Agency & Voice Inclusive Society
Value of Lived Experiences
Ability in Action
Self-Advocacy
