This project of Festus Fajemilo Foundation raises awareness for the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights of children with disabilities (CWDs) amongst the general public and reduces discrimination and stigmatisation against them in the pursuit of their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights. Adolescents in the 21 secondary schools in the Agege Education District of the Ministry of Education, Lagos State are trained to be Adolescent Advocates championing the cause of children with disabilities. They are empowered to train children with disabilities to recognise, pursue and become advocates for their sexual and reproductive health rights. This project also provides life skills training for youngsters with disabilities to encourage them to be more independent and self- sufficient which ultimately boosts their self-esteem and engenders a more positive self-image.

Disability and Sexuality are not mutually exclusive! 

Young persons living with disabilities (YPWD) are believed to be asexual, and hence discussing sexuality with them is considered a taboo.  Even their parents, guardians or caregivers avoid such discussions in their presence.  As a result of their low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence, YPWD are themselves reluctant to seek sexuality information.  Consequently, the YPWD lack awareness of essential information and services regarding their sexuality and they are unable to voice out their challenges in accessing their sexual and reproductive health rights.  

The Festus Fajemilo Foundation (FFF) was founded in 2006, and is named after a boy who developed hydrocephalus two months after he was born. Festus’ parents found it hard to get any information and support, and his condition worsened, seriously limiting his development and requiring continuous and complex care. Appalled by the lack of affordable care, inadequate medical facilities, harmful taboos, and a pervasively negative attitude in Nigerian society, Festus’ parents decided that urgent action was needed hence the birth of FFF. Today the foundation works to raise awareness of the causes, prevention, and treatments for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalous (SBH) and provides guidance, psychosocial, and emotional support to parents on managing the conditions. The organisation is committed to getting SBH on the public health agenda and to forging stronger partnerships with members, development partners, the media, and public stakeholders across the globe to achieve greater visibility, protection, and equal access for people with SBH. 

Their project titled Breaking All Barriers (BAB) aimed to raise awareness of the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights of children with disabilities (CWDs) amongst the public to reduce discrimination and stigmatisation against them in the pursuit of their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights.  

Adolescents in 20 private secondary schools in the Agege Education District of the Ministry of Education, Lagos State were trained to be Guidance Counsellors and Adolescent Advocates in SRHR advocacy.  The project also trained 170 secondary school students (adolescent advocates) from 17 schools in Agege Education District. Through their schools’ guidance counsellors, 12 YPWDs were trained as peer educators of SRHR advocacy at three disability centres (Down syndrome Foundation, Hope Fountain School for the Deaf & Modupe Cole Memorial Childcare Treatment Home). The project also recruited 262 adolescent advocates (87 males; 175 females) in the 17 secondary schools that participated in the project. 69 YPWD advocates (41 males, 28 females) were also recruited through already trained YPWD peer educators. Moreover, the project influenced 9 of the 17 schools to offer admission to 10 children with disabilities. 1 teacher with disability got employment to train students in life skills, sexual & reproductive health rights advocacy in all the 17 secondary schools involved in the project. Breaking All Barriers clubs were also established in the schools.  

A key achievement in the BAB project is that two social actors, the schools guidance counsellors and the secondary school students, because of the understanding of disability issues, took ownership of the project and began to advocate for admission of children and youngsters with disabilities in their schools. The BAB project also heightened the awareness of YPWDs as persons with largely unaddressed and unmet relational needs. PWDs have shared values that could contribute significantly to the greater development of the society if well explored.  

The project learned some critical lessons. Perceptions of disabilities are largely based on ignorance, fear of unknown and negative societal disposition to persons with disabilities. The society would be more receptive of persons with disabilities if there was good knowledge of the issues. This was evident by the change of perception and positive attitudes among adolescent advocates to Deaf students at Hope Fountain School for the Deaf who had prior to their engagement in the BAB project believed Deaf students are very dull and unintelligent. 

Persons with disabilities have immense untapped potentials that could make the society better. The potentials can only be expressed if myriads of barriers militating against them are removed. FFF envisions a society where PWDs enjoy equal rights and live a fulfilled and productive life without any form of abuse, discrimination, and exclusion.