Empowering Girls with Disabilities in Uganda through Education

The Empowering Girls with Disabilities in Uganda through Education project supported 2,060 girls and was implemented by Cheshire Services Uganda (CSU) in Uganda.

There were significant barriers for students with disabilities in the communities the projects worked in. Learning materials were not appropriately adapted, teachers were not equipped with the appropriate knowledge and skills in inclusive education, and school facilities such as toilets and classrooms were generally difficult to access. High levels of poverty added an additional barrier, and many parents were unable to pay for fees and learning materials. In addition, cultural attitudes placed lower value on the education of children with disabilities than their peers. Combined, these factors resulted in poor attendance, high dropout and low learning outcomes for girls with disabilities.

The project addressed these barriers and improved learning and life skills outcomes by mitigating the direct and indirect costs of education, which included the provision of learning material and the payment of school fees. They worked with school leaders, teachers and government partners to make the school environment, and teaching and learning processes, more inclusive. The project also worked with communities and parents to improve attitudes and behaviours towards girls with disabilities, and their capacity to support their education.

Main activities

• Providing direct financial support through the payment of school fees and transport, the provision of learning material, and the payment of therapy and assistive devices when needed.
• Providing indirect financial support through linking girls with corporate and government scholarship schemes, and supporting families to access productive income activities.
• Making school environments more inclusive by training teachers on quality and inclusive teaching and learning methods, and improving the accessibility of school infrastructure.
• Building girls life skills and providing career guidance and counselling to build girls’ self-esteem, confidence and agency.
• Raising awareness about gender, education and disability with parents, schools and communities, and working closely with parents to support access to rehabilitation services and use of assistive devices.

The project in numbers

Lessons learned

Mitigating economic constraints helps improve attendance and learning of learners with disabilities. This was done through the payment of fees, the provision of school supplies, the provision of medical treatment and the provision of assistive devices.

Teachers and other school support staff need guidance and training on how to effectively support and accommodate girls with disabilities and make school environments more inclusive. Guidance counselling and mentoring sessions on child protection, safeguarding and life skills to school staff and students were the activities that most contributed to make schools safer and more inclusive.

Building girls’ confidence, self-esteem and agency helps girls with disabilities transition to the next level of education. This was done through the provision of life skills training, learning and mentoring camps, and counselling and guidance sessions.

Cheshire Services Uganda: https://csuganda.org/