In a bold step toward advancing disability inclusion and rights-based advocacy at the grassroots, FAECARE Foundation has successfully flagged off its Disability Rights Initiative Project: Rural Rivers with a powerful one-day training in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Held at the Aleto Town Hall in Eleme, the impactful event brought together 24 participants—including persons with disabilities, peer mentors, volunteers, and project team members—united by a shared mission to learn, engage, and transform their communities through advocacy.
The training, designed as a catalyst for inclusive change, focused on increasing awareness and knowledge of disability rights among rural and suburban populations. With an emphasis on equipping participants to lead advocacy efforts within their communities, the session explored key issues such as accessibility, inclusive education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and protection from discriminatory language and practices.
“This was truly an eye-opening experience,” said one of the female participants. “For the first time, I fully understand my rights as a woman with a disability—and I feel empowered to stand up for them.”
Participants engaged in lively group discussions and interactive sessions that challenged harmful stereotypes and inspired dialogue around real-life experiences of exclusion and discrimination. The training helped dismantle misconceptions while encouraging participants to become champions of change within their own circles.
A major highlight of the day was the collective commitment by all attendees to take the knowledge gained into the wider Eleme community. Participants outlined plans to conduct community sensitization campaigns and advocacy visits to local authorities, aimed at promoting disability-inclusive policies and attitudes at the grassroots level.
Mr. Lucky Baribor, Project Coordinator at FAECARE Foundation, noted that this training is the first of ten planned sessions to be held across rural LGAs in Rivers State under the Disability Rights Initiative Project. “The goal is simple but powerful,” he said. “We are creating an army of informed advocates across rural Rivers State—individuals who understand their rights, are not afraid to demand them, and are equipped to hold duty-bearers accountable.”
Funded by the Disability Rights Fund, the Disability Rights Initiative Project: Rural Rivers is a strategic intervention targeting systemic barriers that hinder persons with disabilities from fully participating in society. The project aims to amplify the voices of PWDs in rural communities, where access to information and representation is often limited or non-existent.
FAECARE Foundation, a leading non-governmental organization based in Rivers State, is renowned for its dedication to promoting the rights, dignity, and welfare of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable populations. With this latest intervention, the organization is reaffirming its role as a champion for inclusive development and social justice.
As the Rural Rivers project rolls out across nine additional local government areas, the hope is that communities will begin to reflect the principles of inclusion, accessibility, and equity—paving the way for a society where no one is left behind.
By empowering persons with disabilities at the grassroots, FAECARE Foundation is not just raising awareness—it is nurturing a new generation of leaders who will demand and drive the change they want to see.
