Why We Exist
Due to the fear, stigma, and the high costs of medical assessments, many children with disabilities in Zambia do not receive the formal assessments required to allow them to access vital services and assistive devices. Tools that are crucial in enabling them to go to school and receive an education.
In parallel, school infrastructure remains largely inaccessible. Many schools lack wheelchair ramps, accessible toilets, and other necessary accommodations, which means that many children with disabilities are either unable to attend school or are forced to drop out.
The result is that only 12% of children with disabilities in Zambia go on to complete secondary education.
This situation creates a cycle of exclusion, where children with disabilities are unable to acquire the skills and qualifications necessary to compete in the job market.
Parents of children with disabilities, especially mothers, often have limited earning potential due to the demands of caregiving, while also facing significant additional healthcare and childcare costs and, too often, social stigma and exclusion.
