21 - June - 2025
Over the past four days, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a retreat with the successful groups of youths with disabilities from Eastern and Northern Uganda, who were selected earlier this year by the Amaani Fund Panel. As a panel member, it was deeply gratifying to witness grassroots groups of youth with disabilities from rural areas in Eastern and Northern Uganda receiving and independently managing their grants.
The retreat was a comprehensive program featuring training sessions on grant and financial management, record-keeping, project management, and legal documentation. These sessions were led by esteemed experts, including John Kabia and Jessie Macias-Doyle from The Fund for Global Human Rights, along with Miiro Micheal, JohnMary Nsimibi, and several others. Their expertise and dedication were instrumental in preparing the grantees to effectively manage their projects, while also equipping the panelists with the necessary skills to oversee and support these initiatives.
Amaani Fund stands out as the first-of-its-kind participatory grant-making project led by youth with disabilities in Uganda. As a panelist, it has been an honor to collaborate with Show Abilities Uganda and The Fund for Global Human Rights to realize the objectives of this groundbreaking project.
The retreat not only reinforced the importance of empowerment and inclusivity but also highlighted the remarkable potential of these young individuals to drive meaningful change in their communities. I am eagerly looking forward to seeing the successful implementation of these projects and the continued empowerment of more youth with disabilities across Uganda.
For a detailed account of my experience during the selection process, you can read my diary entry at https://kihembo.com/diary/embracing-inclusivity-a-journey-with-amaani-fund
Together, let us continue to champion the rights and capabilities of youth with disabilities, fostering an inclusive and equitable society for all.