During the reporting period, Women with Disabilities Yearning for Equal Opportunities (WoDYEO) built working relationships and conducted dialogues with two new organizations: Women of Hope and the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU).
Women of Hope:
Outcome: In the discussions with Women of Hope, both organizations agreed to collaborate and partner on various activities and programming. This collaboration aims to focus on vulnerable populations, especially women with disabilities, in the northern part of Sierra Leone, covering Bombali district, Tonkolili districts, and Koinadugu districts.
Next Steps: The organizations plan to share information, create opportunities for their beneficiaries, and establish a mechanism for ongoing communication. The partnership may involve joint initiatives, experience sharing, and leveraging each other’s strengths to benefit the target populations.
Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU):
Outcome: WoDYEO engaged with SLTU, the largest teachers’ union in Sierra Leone, with a focus on reaching school-going children, including those with disabilities. The discussions started at the Bombali district branch with plans to extend to regional headquarters and the national secretariat for a potential Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Next Steps: The organizations are in the initial stages of collaboration. WoDYEO aims to establish school clubs on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and SLTU is expected to play a crucial role in coordination and providing technical support. Future steps may involve finalizing an MOU, coordinating outreach activities in schools, and gathering data on children with disabilities who have experienced abuse for targeted interventions.
These new partnerships reflect WoDYEO’s commitment to expanding its network and strengthening collaboration with organizations that share similar goals in promoting the rights and well-being of women and girls with disabilities. The next steps involve operationalizing these partnerships, implementing joint activities, and ensuring effective communication for sustained impact.