AMUA 2.0: GRAZING THE DISABLED

There is a plan and a purpose, a value to every life no matter what it’s location, age, gender or disability.

Have you heard of Amua accelerator? It’s over a year now since the project awarded 4 grand ideas generated by young entrepreneurs in Tanzania with seed funding.

Amua accelerator is an acceleration project supporting young entrepreneurs with seed funding, training and skills development. The project was geared to generate innovative solutions to sexual and reproductive health-related challenges.

The major theme being: Innovate for sexuality

The project was implemented with the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with Sahara Ventures.

This year, the Sahara consulting wing is happy to introduce to you Amua Accelerator 2.0 (The second version of the project).

The second round of Amua is focused on people with disabilities. The major aim is to bridge the gap between people with disabilities and sexual reproductive health information and benefits.

We were lucky to meet with a number of people with disabilities on the 18th earlier this month. Reflecting on the words they said and the emotions entangled with that was a major learning experience for the Saharans.

“We live in a community where people take advantage of our disabilities. There stare at us, and look at us with disbelief when we engage ourselves with normal daily experiences like everyone else. For a disabled person like me, the nurses will mummer and stare and state words like: You too??” shared an individual with a disability.

“Sometimes in the hospitals, the newly born are stolen from women who are blind, especially in cases where a blind mother bores twins. It is heartbreaking” another one claimed.

“The community, and sometimes even our families view us as burdens. Indeed it is not very easy”

A mother with a disabled son grievously stated: “When a child is born with good health and with no disability, the child belongs to the father and the mother. But when a child is born with a disability, this child belongs to the mother”

It was agonizing yet beautiful as they passionately stated their problems and challenges. Listening from people who really understand what it means to feel different, unwanted and out of place was a delightful honour.

After a couple of hours, the conversation shifted from speaking and sharing challenges and it turned into witnessing them claiming positive statements like;

“Despite our disabilities, we have hopes and dreams”

“We know we are capable”

“We have feelings just like any other normal human being”

“We are excited and very much looking forward to what Amua 2.0 will bring to our community”

Sahara Ventures, in collaboration with UNFPA, is eager and ready to make a difference in the lives of those living with disabilities.