Youth with Disability Organization (YoWDO) has successfully conducted disability inclusion training ahead of the 2025 General Election. The training sessions held in Tanga, Singida and Morogoro regions brought together key disability rights stakeholders including social welfare officers, representatives from the prime minister office, national commission of disability and organizations of persons with disabilities. The sessions were designed to prepare participants on the principles of inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in democratic processes.
Opening the training, the representative of Regional Social Welfare Officer Ms. Elisia Mtesigwa said the sessions were designed to prepare ambassadors who will inspire and mobilize others to fully participate in democratic processes. “These trainings are meant to empower ambassadors who will encourage their peers to engage more actively in governance and electoral matters. Persons with disabilities have long been underrepresented in politics, especially in contesting for leadership positions. As ambassadors, we must be the driving force that motivates others to vote, to contest and to fully participate in the election process,” Ms. Elisia Mtesigwa said
The event also featured remarks from the Prime Minister’s Office Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities delivered by Ms. Suzana Mayengo the senior Development Officer for Persons with Disabilities. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing disability inclusion through stronger collaboration with stakeholders such as YoWDO
“First, I would like to extend our gratitude to YoWDO for advocating the rights of persons with disabilities and in supporting this the government has established a dedicated unit to address issues affecting persons with disabilities to ensure equality and recognition of their contribution to national development. Through partnerships with civil society organizations including YoWDO we have made these trainings possible and empowering persons with disabilities to participate actively in democracy at large,” said Ms. Suzana.
Further she highlighted that the government has introduced key reforms to ensure persons with disabilities are directly engaged in evaluating the entire electoral process. “This marks an important step toward creating safe, enabling and inclusive environments where everyone can freely exercise their democratic rights. We have also been entrusted with preparing reports that will help improve future elections and further strengthen democracy in Tanzania,” she added.
During the sessions Mr. Genarius Ernest a facilitator from YoWDO guided participants through the understanding of disability concept. He emphasized that disability is not inherent to the individual but arises when people face barriers around them. “A person is considered disabled when they encounter environmental or social obstacles that prevent them from performing tasks in the same way as others,” he explained reminding participants that inclusion begins with breaking down those barriers.
Adding to the discussion Ms. Doris Chalambo a facilitator from Sightsavers provided practical insights into the electoral cycle and how persons with disabilities can be fully included at each stage. She saidi “There are three key stages in this cycle the first is the pre-election phase where we must promote awareness and inclusion. The second is the election period which requires accessible environments and inclusive materials. Finally, the post-election stage is about evaluation and reporting critical steps that will help our government to improve future elections”
After the training sessions participants were invited to a workshop on planning advocacy campaigns facilitated by Mr. Genarius Ernest from YoWDO. During the workshop participants from Singida, Tanga and Morogoro connected virtually to share experiences on developing advocacy materials and identifying effective channels for dissemination. The discussions focused on strategies to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities and ensure their meaningful participation in democratic processes.
Mr. Genarius began by showcasing examples of past advocacy campaigns implemented by YoWDO that had yielded positive results, giving participants practical lessons and inspiration. Speaking during the virtual session from Tanga, Mr. Salum Kabonge, one of the facilitators from YoWDO, advised that campaign videos should include captions, sign language interpretation, and high-quality audio. For persons with visual impairments, he further recommended the inclusion of braille text to ensure accessibility and maximize impact.
Participants from Morogoro developed scripts and roadmaps containing key messages for advocacy campaigns, including slogans such as:
- “Kura yako, haki yako – Watu wenye ulemavu wanaweza kupiga kura”
- “Ulemavu si kikwazo – Toa sauti yako, kura ni nguvu yako”
- “Kupiga kura ni haki ya msingi kwa watu wenye ulemavu”
They also proposed effective methods for disseminating these messages. By the end of the session participants agreed on an implementation plan by selecting multiple channels to reach a wide audience including radio, television, billboards, flyers and social media platforms.
The disability inclusion training represents a crucial milestone in building an inclusive electoral framework, ensuring that persons with disabilities are fully recognized and not left behind in the nation’s democratic journey.
YoWDO extends sincere appreciation to donors and partners including Sightsavers and the Government of Tanzania for their trust and support. YoWDO remains committed to advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities, promoting inclusive initiatives and unlocking hidden potentials of persons with disabilities in Tanzania.
