In a major step toward building a more inclusive community, a delegation from CUAPWD paid an advocacy visit to the Lord Mayor of the Bamenda III Council, Fongu Cletus Tanwe. The productive meeting focused on addressing the daily challenges faced by children and youths with disabilities and persons with disabilities as a whole in the municipality, while finding concrete ways to collaborate on accessible infrastructure, inclusive policies, and better social services.
Organized under the project “EDID-BEN: Strengthening Disability-Inclusive Advocacy and Systems Change in the North West Region. CUAPWD serves as the advocacy thematic lead f or this movement under the BEN strategy. The project is supported by the CBCHS- EDID program.
“Leave No One Behind”: A Shared Vision
The advocacy visit was a resounding success, with both the council and CUAPWD aligning on key goals. Welcoming the team, Lord Mayor said “We try to include persons with disabilities in everything we do”. Because the municipality operates under the motto “Leave No One Behind,” it means they work together with everyone to ensure that no single person is left out of development and community life.
Turning Proposals in to Action: Holiday Jobs and Inclusive Sports
Beyond discussing challenges, the visit served as a platform to propose concrete ways that CUAPWD and the council can work together to improve the overall quality of life for children and youths with disabilities and persons with disabilities in general and to make the council fully inclusive. Responding to these proposals, Mayor Fongu announced immediate, practical steps:
- Targeted Employment: revealing that the council’s upcoming holiday jobs will feature special slots for youths with disabilities.
- Inclusive Sports: the Mayor stated that they are actively working to ensure that youths with disabilities can participate and are fully included in sporting activities, such as the upcoming inter-quarter competitions.
Economic Empowerment and the Power of Accountability
Economic empowerment, heath care access and sustainability were also major points of discussion during the meeting. Mayor shared some of the council’s past initiatives that supported persons with disabilities, which included providing direct financial assistance and livelihood support to help sustain them. To ensure these resources achieve their intended impact, both parties noted the critical need for close follow ups so that beneficiaries use the funds for their exact purpose. Consequently, CUAPWD expressed its readiness to always work alongside the council to handle the necessary follow-up and ensure these empowerment programs succeed long-term.
By openly acknowledging and building upon the great work the Bamenda III Council is already doing, we are fully prepared to working toward this transformation.
