Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD)

Training workshop of Youths with Disabilities in SRHR Advocacy, Lobbying and Leadership Skills

13 September - 15 September 2016

Gaborone

This is a training of Youths with Disabilities drawn from within the federations of DPOs in ten countries where SAFOD works to impart skills in Leadership and Management Fundamentals. The workshops will enable youth leaders to envision and execute strategic leadership processes and to apply effective management techniques them to perform well and engage policy makers and other Government officials effectively on various issues, particularly in Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

The training will also focus on enhancing Community Engagement skills of the youths with disabilities and their DPOs, so that they are able to develop effective advocacy strategies, initiate and sustain community projects, and involve peers in unique youth-led programs that improve SRHR in their communities.

The training workshops have been conceptualized on the basis that most Governments in the ten countries where SAFOD currently operates are slowly recognizing SRHR for women with disabilities – including youth with disabilities – as a fundamental human rights, and a few credible NGOs are contributing efficiently towards the cause but most youths with disabilities have still not been openly educated about SRHR. Globally as well as in the context of sub-Sahara Africa, a lot of work is being done in the field of SRHR but there is very less representation of disability.

Hence, it is time to bring youths with disabilities together and develop their skills not only in understanding the basic concepts of SRHR issues, but also how to effectively build sustained advocacy programmes in their communities. In addition, the training also seeks to build their own leadership skills so as to enhance greater leadership of young persons with disabilities to access and be providers of information on disability friendly reproductive health services which promote the reduction of stigma and discrimination.