News Leadership training for vulnerable girls

Research suggests that women with disabilities are more likely to experience domestic violence, and sexual assault than women without disabilities. Women with disabilities may also feel more isolated and feel they are unable to report the abuse, or they may be dependent on the abuser for their care. Like many women who are abused, women with disabilities are usually abused by someone they know, such as a partner or family member.

Disabled people also face emotional and verbal abuse. This can have short-term and long-lasting effects that are just as serious as the effects of physical abuse. Emotional and verbal abuse includes insults and attempts to scare, isolate, or controlling the person with disability.

It is critical that people with disabilities growing into adulthood learn to identify themselves with self-respect as individuals and as members of the very accomplished disability community.

Disabled teenagers are often filled with a sense of shame and self-consciousness. In order to encourage and help disabled teenagers to get their voice heard we started a youth leadership program with 20 youngsters.

By providing an atmosphere of encouragement, Niketan offers teenagers with common challenges and experiences the opportunity to learn from one another. Guest speakers address topics as violence, gender equity, self-advocacy, peer mentoring, communication, media, personal discovery, leadership development, and solidarity. Successful men and women with disabilities serve as role models in helping youth realize their ability, right, and obligation to pursue meaningful employment and contribute to society.

The final goal of the leadership training, which is part of our ‘The Right to Decide’ approach is to make the teenagers equipped to start a simple campaign on domestic violence and rape.

When you are interested to support this cause, please contact info@niketan.nl

Read more about lifelong learning.