Bridge the Gap

CBM’s work in ethiopia

Fatuma with her son Abdulrahim

Woreta, Ethiopia - 2019-09-03 - CBM-partnered Cheshire Foundation Action on Inclusion Bridge the Gap community worker Adina Fetene at the home of client Abdulrahim Abdulrahaman, 18 months, in Woreta, Ethiopia, on September 3, 2019. Abdulrahim has undiagnosed cerebral palsy and receives home based care several times a week. "I've seen improvements especially on his hand movements; he can stretch his fingers and is becoming flexible," says his mother Fatuma. Before the intervention from Bridge the Gap, Fatuma says she had given up.

Bridge the Gap Community worker Zebenay Gebre Hiwot with Feysele Mohamed

Woreta, Ethiopia - 2019-09-05 - Feysele Mohamed, 11, who has an undiagnosed deformity, visits the health centre in Woreta, Ethiopia, on September 5, 2019. He is accompanied by Bridge the Gap Community worker Zebenay Gebre Hiwot, left, who attends health visits with clients to ensure they receive the services to which they are entitled.

Bridge the Gap was a CBM Ireland three-year programme (2018-2021) in Ethiopia, which set the overall aim to see an inclusive environment was established in two zones – East Gojjam and South Gondar of Amhara region in which children and adults with disabilities enjoy their rights, live as equal citizens, are resilient and counted as a development force of Ethiopia. The project aimed to build the capacity of members of local government, to strengthen the health and education services, and to educate communities so that people with disabilities are accepted, respected and treated as equal members of society.

The project worked to increase participation of people with disabilities into community life through awareness-raising and disability training of local government officials, health workers, teachers, social workers, and wider community members including the people with disabilities and their family members.

While changing community attitudes towards disability remain the cornerstone of the project, equal emphasis was put on transforming the environment and making it physically accessible for people with disabilities. For example, renovation of the schools and health centres – construction of gateways and ramps, providing accessible learning materials, such as braille books and sign language dictionaries and supporting the families struggling to meet the needs of their child’s schooling necessities.

Moreover, Bridge the Gap incorporated mental health programmes, screening and nutritional provision for undernourished children with disabilities, as well as referrals of children and adults with disabilities for surgical and medical interventions and assistive device provisions while providing home-based rehabilitation for children with disabilities. These are life-changing interventions that have and will continue to improve the life quality and well-being of the people with disabilities allowing them to become independent and self-reliant members of the community.