Debbie Kauna Foundation Empowers 306 Persons With Disabilities

By Our Reporter
Three hundred and six persons with disabilities including women and girls in Michika and Madagali local government areas have received tools business start-up kits packed with life-sustaining potential.
The distribution marked the climax of three months life-changing project implemented by the Debbie Kauna Foundation with funding from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund NHF and technical support from UN Women.
The beneficiaries were trained on tailoring, poultry farming, backyard gardening, rice processing, shoemaking, tie and dye, and small livestock management among others.
Speaking during the event, the UN Women Project Analyst, Doctor Olaniyi Aderibigbe, explained that Adamawa State was selected under NHF Allocation Strategy three, while Michika and Madagali were chosen due to significant population of displaced and vulnerable women and girls with disabilities.

According to him, the aim is to break barriers and increase access, promote both protection and dignity while ensuring economic empowerment through vocational skills and start-up kits to ensure that beneficiaries are financially independent and resilient enough to support themselves and their families.
Doctor Aderibigbe emphasized that the initiative focuses on persons with disabilities, it forms part of a much broader drive to mainstream disability-focused projects into all humanitarian responses.
In her remarks, the founder of the Debbie Kauna Foundation, Mrs. Deborah Birdling Bubwa said the Foundation was formed to advances the rights, privileges, and opportunities of persons with disabilities.
She explained that the project, funded by NHF under the secretarial leadership of UN Women, the empowerment of women and girls with disabilities towards full and effective participation and gender equality in the State.
A traditional leader in Michika, Chief James Bitrus who spoke during the event called for the scaling up of the programme across other Local Government Areas in the state.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke lauded the efforts of the organizers and assured judicious utilization of the items to improve their livelihood.