With our partners in Asia and Africa, we are building an effective network to structurally improve the lives of children with disabilities together. Recently, together with MIVA, we brought together our network of partners in Uganda for an inspiring partner meeting.

Hillary Tanyanyiwa, director of development organisation JF Kapnek from Zimbabwe, was present. It is important for partners to seek each other out, according to Hillary.

‘By learning from each other, we increase the quality and impact of our work for children with disabilities. Many successful practices can be applied elsewhere in this way. We also learn organisational matters from each other, how to work efficiently and financially sustainably. For example, my organisation brings in a lot of knowledge on fundraising and international cooperation.’

Inspiring

‘Meeting fellow partners is inspiring. I took insights back to Zimbabwe to increase the involvement of the communities we work in. Because to rehabilitate a child with a disability, you need the whole community. This is at the heart of the community-based rehabilitation (CBR) approach we take.

‘Liliane Fonds and MIVA are CBR experts, and this approach is increasingly emphasised in our collaboration. I welcome that, because it allows partners to improve the lives of children with disabilities in a more holistic way.’

Tangible

Knowledge exchange with fellow partners encourages such structural developments, and delivers tangible improvements in day-to-day work, says Hillary.

‘Our staff who go into the neighbourhoods, we make them more recognisable. So that people who need their help approach them more quickly. We also provide the staff with tools that make working easier, such as telephones. And bicycles, so they can serve a larger area. This way, we increase our impact for the children and their families.’

Would you like to know more about the partner meeting? A recap can be found HERE.