Mandela’s Story

Czarinah Mercado lives in the Philippines. She dreams of a stable job and to one day have her own business and her own family, but potential employers see her disability as a disadvantage. 

She has spent time honing her knowledge and skills in the hope that they’ll look past her disability and see her capabilities instead.

Rebecca Nyirenda lives in Zambia where she loves going to school. However, a lack of appropriate transport means she can only go three times a week. 

Her father knows how intelligent she is and wants her to be able to go to school every day; he thinks it’s unfair that people with disabilities do not have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Regina Mwangi goes to one of the best universities in East and Central Africa, yet poor wheelchair access and a lack of appropriate facilities pose a threat to her education. 

Mandela George Gaya had to overcome the attitudes of some of his own family members in order to get an education. They thought someone like him would not achieve anything in life and that an education would be a waste of time and resources.

Margaret Kangai has been raising her little girl in Kenya and feels proud of the job she’s done so far.

However, during her pregnancy she had to overcome stigma from people in the community, as well as her own doctors, who thought someone with her disability couldn’t have sexual relations, let alone raise a child. 

 

Getting into employment in the Philippines was not an easy feat for Kristelle Gonzales. 

Previously she’d been judged for her physical appearance over her ability to succeed, as well as being bullied by her own colleagues. However, Kristelle has used those challenges as motivation to keep trying new things and overcome the bullies.