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[Drumming] ♪
In August, I had the privilege of representing the Global Fund for Women
at the Women’s Institute on Leadership and Development or WILD,
a three-week program hosted by Mobility International USA.
Women disability rights activists came from 34 countries
to a serene natural setting in Eugene, Oregon.
They came to share with each other their wisdom and strategies
for how to win recognition, inclusion and rights for the disability community.
During the final week, WILD alumni and representatives from international organizations
participated by networking, mentoring, and discussing
gender, disability and development.
From these incredible women, I learned how it feels
to be excluded from the mainstream women’s movement in India,
how it feels to be marginalized
in a male-led disability rights movement in Botswana,
and the importance of bringing women with different disabilities together
for a stronger and more unified voice in every country.
I was so proud that Global Fund for Women
had provided seed grants to many of these grassroots leaders,
who had experienced other funders telling them,
“We don’t do disability.”
I was overjoyed to be able to say,
“Yes, we recognize the importance of investing in women with disabilities.”
Some of our grantees shared with me
what receiving a Global Fund grant meant to them.
I’m Jasmina Risteska from Macedonia
and I’m working for an organization Mobility Challenge.
Our focus is women with disabilities
and their inclusion in every aspect of social life.
The great work the Global Fund for Women is doing
is that they support us in the most difficult moment for us,
that is in our beginning, and thank you very much Global Fund for your support.
[La, la, la, la, la, la] ♫
Hi, my name is Ekaete Umoh.
I’m the Executive Director of Family-Centered Initiatives for Challenged Persons,
an NGO working with women and girls with disabilities
based in Nigeria and a grantee of Global Fund for Women.
I want to really thank Global Fund for Women for giving us the foundation,
which we are standing on today.
In 2004, we got about $6,000 from Global Fund for Women
to support our organization and since then things have really, really changed.
The money came when we needed it the most and it was so strengthening,
it gave us the energy to move on.
With that money we’ve been able to do a lot for our organization,
and the issues of women with disabilities in Nigeria has been brought to the front burner.
[La, la, la, la, la, la] ♫
I am Karine from Armenia.
I am the President of Agate Center
for Women with Special Needs NGO.
Our NGO was founded
thanks to the grant provided by
Global Fund for Women in 2007.
I want to thank them
for their support and trust.
They were the first who trusted us.
[La, la, la, la, la, la] ♫
My name is Alicia Contreras and I am a disability activist.
Thanks to the Global Fund I got a grant and I started a women’s program in Mexico.
I started the first independent living center for women with disabilities,
and without the Global Fund I would not be able to do it.
My advice for those who think you can’t do it:
do it, try it, start it.
After the program, women returned home energized
to overcome challenges and raise the visibility
of women with disabilities in their communities.
I, too, left eager to be a stronger ally
to the global women’s disability rights movement.
These loud, proud and passionate women have deeply inspired me
and I will hold their vision, songs and laughter with me forever.
We want to be part of your community.