Disability Advocate Training in Zambia

Partnering with Churches for Disability Advocacy

This year, we have conducted advocacy trainings at 3 churches, training 134 community advocates from about 15 different churches in various compounds across Lusaka. These trainings focused on advocating for the inclusion and support of children with intellectual disabilities, ensuring that these children and their families feel welcomed in their communities of faith. Our disability advocacy trainings have successfully empowered local advocates and church leaders to challenge cultural myths and misconceptions about disabilities. Since the program's inception in 2012, we have trained over 2,000 disability advocates, who are now driving change within their communities and churches.

Our work with churches is essential in breaking down cultural myths and misconceptions surrounding disability. By partnering with pastors and church leadership, we ensure that churches become safe, inclusive places where children with intellectual disabilities and their families are not only welcomed, but actively supported.

Our disability advocacy trainings equip church leaders with factual information about disabilities, and we ground this in scripture to help dismantle stigma. Pastors are now better equipped to address harmful beliefs and foster environments where families with children with disabilities feel a sense of belonging.

Our goal is to create lasting change by ensuring church leaders understand both the practical and spiritual aspects of caring for children with disabilities. This, in turn, promotes broader community inclusion, reduces isolation, an provides a stronger support network for these families.

We typically create partnerships with churches by reaching out to them, offering our training. However, as more churches see the positive impact of our work, some are starting to initiate and reach out to us, asking for support and training to better include people with disabilities in their congregations.

Alex Chitumbo
Director of Programs | Community Outreach
Special Hope Network

Links:

• Special Hope Network