UK public will support disabled children in Uganda to go to school this International Day of People with Disabilities

To mark International Day of People with Disabilities, UK charity Motivation launches their UK Aid Match All-Stars Appeal, which will support disabled children in Uganda to go to primary school.

This year’s theme for the day, determined by the United Nations, is ‘the future is accessible’. But the charity points out that this message sadly does not apply to the 91% of disabled children in Uganda who currently miss out on primary education due to discrimination. Stigma around disability denies disabled children a chance to learn, socialise or even join in with their communities.

Without vital schooling, disabled children are left with low confidence, limited job prospects and little hope of becoming independent. But when disabled children – like Waldah – are included at school, it makes all the difference to their lives.

Waldah is the only disabled child at her school in Uganda, but her teacher Qasasa works hard to make sure she can join in:

“Waldah is really good. She takes a longer time to learn, but the end result is very good… She has improved so much through playing with the other children.”

After having a chance to join school, Waldah has built confidence, become more mobile and started making friends. Her mum, Lucy, is thrilled with her progress:

“Waldah has changed completely – she couldn’t speak three years ago but now she can speak! She can walk and she can really sing. She is eating independently, and her communication is good. ”

Motivation’s All-Stars Appeal will use sports and games to break the stigma around disability and ensure all children can be included – in school, on the playing field and in community life.

The appeal aims to raise £240,000 and all public donations between 3 December 2019 and 3 March 2020 will be doubled by the UK government.

With donations doubled, Motivation can create sports clubs that will give disabled children the confidence to play shoulder to shoulder with non-disabled peers. They can provide teacher training to create schools where differences are embraced and everyone has the chance to learn. They can train sports coaches to mentor disabled children and teach them about their rights.

Jordan Jarrett-Bryan (Channel 4 presenter, former wheelchair basketball star, disability sport mentor and Motivation supporter) said:

“I know what it’s like to be excluded because of how disability is perceived. At 13 I was told that I couldn’t be part of my football team anymore – it was crushing. I couldn’t join in with my friends and for the first time it felt like my disability was holding me back. But when I discovered wheelchair basketball everything changed: it totally restored my belief in what I could do with my life.

“So I’m delighted to support Motivation’s All-Stars Appeal and help give disabled children in Uganda the chance to be champions too. By using sport and play to break local stigma around disability, Motivation will ensure all children can go to school and build positive futures. This appeal is a great chance to make real change.”

Jennifer Browning (former Paralympian and Motivation Trustee) said:

“All children have dreams, ambitions and a desire to succeed. We believe that disabled children should be given an equal chance to show what they can do when given a chance to join in. We know that sports and play can provide an inclusive environment, so that disability is no longer seen as a barrier to achievement.

“We’re grateful to everyone who supports Motivation’s All-Stars Appea and has their donation doubled by the UK government. You will be helping us to level the playing field for generations of disabled people.”

Find out more about the appeal or make a donation at: www.motivation.org.uk/all-stars-appeal.

For further information please contact Anna Reeve, reeve@motivation.org.uk, 0117 944 9845.

Notes to Editors:

About Motivation

Motivation is an international development charity and social enterprise. As well as designing their own special range of wheelchairs, Motivation provides training and practical support to ensure that disabled people in developing countries can develop confidence and skills to use their wheelchair and participate in all aspects of life. They also support disabled people, their families and communities to fight stigma and understand their rights. More information at www.motivation.org.uk

Public donations can make a real difference to the future for disabled children:

• £4 could buy a medal and certificate for a disabled child like Waldah to make her feel like a champion at sports day
• £7 could provide a sports kit so girls like Waldah can wear her team colours at tournaments
• £22 could pay for a mentor to help disabled children to better understand her rights
• £32 could deliver training for 15 teachers like Qasasa so they can ensure disabled children are included at their schools
• £58 could fund an inclusive sports training session with a coach, bringing disabled children and their peers together to play

Donations can be made:

• online at www.motivation.org.uk/all-stars-appeal [live at 00:01, 3 December]
• by phone on 0117 9660398
• by post to All-Stars Appeal, Motivation Unit 2, Sheene Road, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4EG.

Public donations will help disabled people across the developing world become mobile, independent and empowered. Match funding from the UK government will support Motivation’s All-Stars project in Uganda to level the playing field and ensure all disabled children are included.

More information is available on Waldah, Qasasa and Lucy.

More stories on people who have benefited from Motivation’s work can be found at www.motivation.org.uk/stories.

About UK Aid Match

UK Aid Match brings charities, British people and the UK government together to change the lives of some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people. It is designed to provide opportunities for the UK public to engage with international development issues and to allow the British public to have a say in how UK aid is spent, whilst boosting the impact of the very best civil society projects to reach the poorest people in developing countries.

For every £1 donated to a UK Aid Match charity appeal by an individual living in the UK, the UK government will also contribute £1 of UK aid, up to £2 million, to help these projects go further in changing and saving lives.

Over the last six years, 61 organisations from across the UK have run UK Aid Match projects in 37 countries, helping around 23.4 million people.