Port Harcourt, Nigeria – April 2025 – In a bold and strategic move to uplift and empower persons with disabilities in rural communities of Rivers State, the FAECARE Foundation has officially inaugurated the Disability Rights Initiative Project: Rural Rivers (DRIP:RR), signaling a transformative shift toward inclusive development in the region.
Backed by the Disability Rights Fund, DRIP:RR is a comprehensive, grassroots-focused initiative aimed at strengthening disability inclusion, promoting human rights, and addressing the systemic challenges faced by persons with disabilities in some of the most underserved areas of Rivers State.
Following its formal launch in March, the month of April witnessed a landmark event that brought together critical stakeholders, seasoned advocates, and passionate community representatives. Held in the heart of Port Harcourt, the training, inauguration, and commissioning ceremony marked the official onboarding of Disability Peer Mentors and members of the Central Inter-Task Action Group (CITAG) – two key pillars that will drive the project’s mission forward at the community level.
A Vision for Inclusion: DRIP:RR’s Multi-Faceted Approach
The DRIP:RR project was conceived as a dynamic, multi-layered intervention to close the gap in disability rights advocacy and service delivery in rural Rivers. The FAECARE Foundation’s Executive Director, Ndifreke Andrew-Essien in her opening remarks, highlighted the strategic importance of the project in addressing the invisibility of rural persons with disabilities in policy dialogues and development planning.
“This initiative is more than a project—it is a movement to ensure that disability is no longer a barrier to dignity, participation, and opportunity in the rural areas of Rivers State,” she said.
The April event served not only as a capacity-building session but also as a powerful mobilization platform. Participants included trained disability advocates from previous DRIP projects, members of the disability community, and newly recruited peer mentors who will serve as local champions for inclusion across selected local government areas.
Powerful Learning and Action Sessions
Participants engaged in a series of insightful and interactive sessions, including:
- An overview of DRIP:RR’s objectives and implementation strategy, which outlined the project’s commitment to using community-led advocacy to influence inclusive development.
- A deep-dive training on understanding disability, rights, and inclusion, which tackled entrenched misconceptions and promoted human rights-based approaches to disability.
- Clarification of roles and responsibilities for CITAG members and Disability Peer Mentors, ensuring all stakeholders are fully equipped to serve as watchdogs, mobilizers, and advocates in their respective communities.
- Establishment and Inauguration Ceremonies that formally introduced the Disability Peer Mentors and CITAG to the public as official drivers of the DRIP:RR agenda.
- Strategic Planning Session on next steps, which included identifying ten local government areas across rural Rivers State where the project will initially roll out.
Building Bridges for Lasting Change
The creation of the Disability Peer Mentors network is particularly strategic. These individuals, drawn from within the disability community, will play a frontline role in mobilizing local action, identifying issues affecting persons with disabilities, and linking community members with the services and support they need. Similarly, the Central Inter-Task Action Group (CITAG) will serve as the coordinating and monitoring hub, ensuring that project goals are met, and challenges are swiftly addressed.
“CITAG will be the engine that keeps this initiative on track,” said one project facilitator. “They bring together diverse voices and experiences to ensure the project reflects the real needs of rural communities.”
Charting a New Course for Disability Rights in Rivers State
With the successful launch of this next phase of DRIP:RR, FAECARE Foundation is laying the groundwork for an inclusive future where no one is left behind. The project has already begun generating momentum and goodwill among local stakeholders, including traditional leaders, community-based organizations, and policymakers.
The Foundation is optimistic that DRIP:RR will not only strengthen local disability rights advocacy but also inspire state-level reforms that embed inclusion as a permanent feature of governance in Rivers State.
“We are not just training people; we are building a movement for social justice and equity,” said Francesca Emanuel. “Through DRIP:RR, we are bringing visibility to those who have been marginalized for too long.”
As implementation begins in the selected 10 local government areas, all eyes are on DRIP:RR to deliver the change it promises—empowerment, inclusion, and dignity for persons with disabilities in the most remote parts of Rivers State.
About FAECARE Foundation
The FAECARE Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to empowering vulnerable populations—especially women, children, and persons with disabilities—through education, health, advocacy, and sustainable development projects. Over the years, the Foundation has carved a niche as a leading voice for disability rights in the Niger Delta region.
