UWEZO exists because the founder, Mr. Bahati Satir Omar, faced adversity after losing his sight at 17 while completing high school. As a teenager, navigating the world as a blind person was filled with unpredictability, disconnection, and societal misconceptions around disability. Charity-driven approaches and traditional stigmas only deepened this exclusion.

When Bahati sought alternative skills to survive, his family lacked the knowledge and support systems to guide him. But from his personal struggles grew a passion for change. He chose to transform his pain into purpose and founded UWEZO Youth Empowerment to advocate for and empower children and youth with disabilities in Rwanda.

Since 2014, UWEZO has worked tirelessly to ensure children and youth with disabilities live independently and with dignity. Despite commendable government and partner efforts, people with disabilities still face considerable barriers, including:

• ✓Delayed childhood development due to poor early education and lack of community-based rehabilitation.
• ✓Limited access to inclusive and quality education in both mainstream and special education systems.
• ✓Inadequate healthcare and rehabilitation, including unavailability of assistive devices.
• ✓Unemployment and underemployment among youth with disabilities due to skill gaps and insufficient support post-education.

UWEZO addresses these challenges by providing children and youth with disabilities the tools and opportunities needed for economic independence and active participation in society. As a cross-disability, youth-led organization, we protect young people from malpractice and exclusion, promote disability-inclusive safeguarding, and nurture leadership through mentorship, civic engagement, and advocacy.

We believe in the immense potential of youth with disabilities to shape their communities and the future of Rwanda.