Raising our voices together has made us powerful!
In Afar, persons with disabilities have long faced exclusion and barriers. With support from #CBM and ORDA Ethiopia, change has begun. In 2025, the first Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) was legally registered—uniting 34 founders into a movement that has now grown to 200+ members.
Through collective savings of ETB 50,000 and the launch of a retail shop, members are building sustainable livelihoods while advocating for inclusion in local development. Their voices are now heard by government, humanitarian partners, and communities across the region.
This OPD stands as a powerful example of how unity, vision, and support can transform challenges into opportunities for equality and lasting change.
Disability Has Not Stopped Me
I’m Amin Aswuka, 22, from Afar. Since childhood, I’ve faced disability and poverty, crawling hours to school without support. Life changed when ORDA Ethiopia and CBM gave me a wheelchair and start‑up capital. Today, I run my own grocery shop, serve as VESA secretary, and inspire my community. My journey proves that with hope and opportunity, disability is never a barrier to success.
From Struggle to Strength
I have raised 11 children in Afar, and six of them have lived with disabilities. Life has been very hard, but with support from ORDA Ethiopia and CBM, our family has received a wheelchair, goats, and training. My daughter has started moving freely, and we have begun building a sustainable livelihood. This project has truly transformed our lives and given us hope.
Indris Umar, a father of eight from Aberensa village, Haro Gobensa Kebele, faced poverty and child malnutrition. With support from ORDA Ethiopia and UNICEF’s Climate Smart Nutrition Project, he received three goats—now ten—and began feeding his child goat milk daily. His son’s weight rose from 6 to 20 kg, and the family’s livelihood improved. Indris now plans to expand his herd, keep his children in school, and strengthen his farming. He calls the project life-changing and a source of lasting hope.
Read more: Indris Umar, a father of eight from Aberensa village
“From Struggle to Strength: Aregash’s Journey to Rebuilding Her Life”
Aregashe Mitiku Ademasie, like many young people pursuing formal education, once dreamed of building a professional career. She earned a certificate in electronics and aspired to work in the media. But life took a different path.
“I wanted to become a media professional,” she recalls, “but life had other plans.”
Read more: “From Struggle to Strength: Aregash’s Journey to Rebuilding Her Life”