Inclusion Africa Coordinator speaks at YALI/MWF

Inclusion Africa Coordinator Speaks at U.S. President Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Mandela Washington Fellowship East Africa Regional Conference

Shikuku Obosi, Inclusion International’s Regional Coordinator for Africa, was recently a guest and moderator at U.S. President Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Mandela Washington Fellowship East Africa Regional Conference. More than 100 rising African leaders met for the conference in Nairobi, Kenya on 7th June 2015 at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi. Discussions focused on issues of regional integration, inclusive development, youth entrepreneurship, and peace and security across East Africa. The conference placed heavy emphasis on entrepreneurship, gearing up for the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Summit to be held in Kenya in July. YALI is President Obama’s signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa.

Shikuku moderated a panel on “political participation” during a session on Mainstreaming Disability: Approaches in Development and highlighted Inclusion International‘s work supporting political participation (beyond casting a vote) for people with intellectual disabilities and how to enhance the development of inclusive civic engagement in Africa. The session drew 30 participants from Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and USA.

Earlier, Shikuku had spoken about Inclusion Africa’s work and the significance of UN Convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities Article 12 on Legal Capacity and how having the Right to Decide is critical to securing all other rights especially for people with intellectual disabilities who are disproportionately devalued in the society. Shikuku highlighted Inclusion International’s Global Report on the Right to Decide released in 2014 and which provides a clear vision and roadmap for achieving the right to decide, set out by people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Shikuku’s session included a presentation on Inclusion Africa’s work on strengthening the voice of people with intellectual disabilities in their own lives and collectively as self-advocates from the time they are young to make decisions.

The Mandela Washington Fellows with disabilities highlighted their projects and ideas with partners from the private, nonprofit, and global sectors.

Inclusion Africa has been requested to support Mandela Washington Fellows with continuing professional development opportunities in Africa, to advance these young leaders along their professional leadership trajectories.