Empowerment of African Women with Disabilities
Women with disabilties especially in our African context usually encounter double discrimination; that of being a woman and that of having a disability. Madam Lilian Gwanyanya is a woman with disability who has managed to excell despite the hurdles she faced growing up as a woman with disability. The following is her self written story:
My name is Lilian Gwanyanya. I was born and grew up in an African country called Zimbabwe (meaning house of stone). I have a physical disability as a result of polio miletus that affected long back before the age of five.
My father was a polygamist with twelve children, I being the last born to his second marriage. I did grade one to form six at St. Anthony's Primary School and Secondary respectively, in the rural area of Zaka in Masvingo.
Indeed life had it's own challenges for a girl child especially with disabilities in a rural area and learning in a mainstream class. I had a lot of encouragement from my parents to work hard. I took their advice strongly and passed Ordinary and Advanced level and got admitted into the University of Zimbabwe which was the only University in Zimbabwe during that time. I became the first child of my father to graduate with a bachelor's degree in 1990. This made my parents proud.
I started teaching at St. Peter's Kubatana a school in Highfields in 1991. In 1995 I went back to University again and obtained a Graduate Certificate in Education.
By this time I was so much into lobbying and advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities as a member of National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe (NCDPZ). I wanted to see persons with disabilities getting education, trainings and other related for them to be independent.
I usually spend most of my weekends and holidays doing community work and home visits to families that have children and persons with disabilities.
As a classroom teacher I always had an eye for children with disabilities learning at my school who needed assistance. For those with low vision I had to ask the Headmaster of the school to apply for them to have large print as well as extra time during examinations.
In 201, I did Master's in Science Special Education with the Zimbabwe Open University. This enabled me to work better with students who need assistance. I also became chairperson for Harare branch NCDPZ. The following year 2013 I got chance to advance myself as I did Mainstreaming of Persons with Disabilities for African Countries with DPI-Japan and Thailand. In 2014 I did Training of Trainers: Disability Equality Training (DET) for Southern African Region in Johannesburg the Republic of South Africa. In the organization I later rose to become National Secretary for NCDPZ. I contested in 2013 first senatorial elections for persons with disabilities and missed the first position by just two votes. I became second runner-up and since there was only one opening for a woman I missed but did not give up.
I am a founder member for Center for Children with Disabilities-C4CD. I believe that persons with disabilities especially women and girls can achieve a lot if they just become assertive in life and not sit back. Women and girls with disabilities should aim to get education and training first before marriage so that they can be independent. This will also reduce Gender Based Violence GBV in a way. They will be in a position to leave abusive environments and stay on their own. Those women with children will also be able to look after their children themselves.
Education is key to women and girls with disabilities. Let us not be content with one certificate. The sky is the limit to those who want to further their education. Women and girls with disabilities should also aspire to occupy positions of leadership including political so that they can influence decisions that will benefit persons with disabilities. It is prudent for women and girls with disabilities to advocate for a quota system in all positions reserved for women in our country.
I hope you enjoyed reading Lilian's story.
Stay well!