Supporting People with Down Syndrome in Africa

The Rwanda Down Syndrome Organisation (RDSO) continues to register more people with Down syndrome and their families, both through referrals from hospitals and a drop-in service running at the office. RDSO provides those that register with a leaflet about the organisation and is currently developing an information booklet about Down syndrome. June saw the first meeting of RDSO’s newly established parent support group in Kigali, which will provide a space for parents to share their experiences and discuss important issues about their children. We continue to provide ongoing support and advice as they develop these new activities.

In May two self-advocates with Down syndrome from our organisations in Uganda and Nigeria spent a week in Kenya attending BRIDGE training, an intensive advocacy training programme run by the International Disability Alliance (which we are a member of) and the International Disability and Development Consortium. We were in Kenya to provide ongoing support to them during the training, and are now working with them to develop their advocacy activities further and put their learning to use in their countries.

The Down’s Syndrome Foundation of Zambia (DSFZ) continues to push for inclusive education for children with Down syndrome and has been working with government officials to improve their education policies. We have been advising DSFZ on inclusive education best practices to inform their advocacy work.

Thanks again to everyone who has given generously to this campaign and enabled us to continue supporting Down syndrome organisations across Africa. These organisations are doing fantastic work in their countries to support people with Down syndrome and their families, and to campaign for the advancement of their human rights. We appreciate every penny donated and all future donations will be used to push our work forward across the continent.