Children with disabilities in Bishoftu, Ethiopia

Partner organisation: Berhan Lehetsanat

Project location: Bishoftu, Dukem and Gelan towns in the Oromia region

This project is a four-year intervention (2023-2026) with the aim that rights of children with disabilities in Ethiopia are realized, allowing them to enjoy a balanced childhood, safe growth environment and quality education.

In Ethiopia disability is still a source of social and economic exclusion. Despite many efforts at country-level to advance inclusive education, there remains a need for complementary work at the grassroots level to identify children with disabilities and bring them to school, as well as to change discriminating behaviors and mentalities of communities and build capacities of local duty-bearers.

To this end, this project works to achieve four outcomes:

1) Improved right to participation and inclusive and quality pre-school and primary education for children with disabilities in project areas
2) Improved rights of 480 children with disabilities through rehabilitation and increased commitment of duty bearers and communities
3) 200 children/youth with disabilities and their families able to secure an adequate standard of living to fulfill the basic needs of their children
4) Strengthened capacity of Berhan Lehetsanat, persons with disabilities and their organizations to advocate for and monitor their rights, promoting disability inclusion, gender equality and non-discrimination

The project is implemented in Bishoftu, Dukem and Gelan towns in the Oromia region by Berhan Lehetsanat and Interpedia. Berhan Lehetsanat & Interpedia have worked in Bishoftu for over ten years, reaching over a thousand children with disabilities. This project targets 7 new kebeles through Community Based Rehabilitation and in 5 kebeles, where the partners worked in 2019-21, emphasis will be on empowering children with disabilities, their parents and people with disabilities to claim their rights and aware duty bearers of their responsibilities.

The project collaborates with organizations of persons with disabilities, and government offices to build their capacity to provide inclusive services. The project reaches 480 children with disabilities, 200 parents/guardians, 14 primary schools, 10 pre-schools, 250 teachers, over 15 000 community members, 14 community volunteers, 21 Health Extension Workers, 200 government officials and 200 community leaders.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland is financing 92,5 % of the project and Interpedia’s donations cover 7,5 %.