I Belong! Count Me In! project empowers and engages Children with Disabilities and their parents in the manifold activities and events that encourage children and people with disabilities (CWDs) to take steps towards taking a pro-active role in society, giving them the much-needed space to ventilate their needs so that society can respond accordingly.

Children and people with disabilities (C/PWDs) have a long history of oppression, abuse, shunning and being stigmatised by society. Present times have changed people’s attitudes with regards to C/PWDs, however, a great number are still victimised with inhumane treatments, their lives are devalued, stigmatised as criminals, viewed as sickly, inaccurately tested, hidden in the shadows of their homes and not counted as part of society.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is protecting children who are vulnerable and subject to unpleasant experiences that would have them disadvantaged and easily preyed upon by adults or some of their peers. Specifically, this project pursues:

• Organisational Development for Ulikid to take on a lead role in pushing for an inclusive legislative agenda in the City of Iloilo. This is through starting with the establishment of community-based rehabilitation in the 180 barangays of the city.
• Life Skills Training for direct participants – child and parent – since the majority of them are economically marginalised.
• Public Speaking workshops that enable them to speak without fear and have the confidence to discuss their issues with government authorities.
• Establishing a deep bench of distinctly unique future leaders who will coach other CWDs that they need to be heard and not just seen.

The above-mentioned strategies create a public space where the cause of CWDs are seriously regarded by duty bearers (government agencies and local executives), stakeholders, allied groups, and the general public.

“The changes that transpired in the hearts and minds of the rightsholders gave them new perspectives in life. Each activity made them realise they were more than their disabilities. It made them more aware of the abilities that will lead them to a brighter future. Their characters were made stronger, and their self-esteem was boosted. As for the parents, they were made to understand the uniqueness of their respective children. They learned new skills, and they also have a deeper  sense of community involvement.”  ULIKID Team

The above quote from the ULIKID staff demonstrates the key result of this project which has been about empowerment. Empowerment of the youth with disabilities as well as their parents.  These empowering effects changed the perspectives of 117  rightsholders and their families.

The results showed that for children with disabilities, self -esteem was boosted as these videos illustrate

What is leadership as defined by youth with disabilities

Travel vlog made by youth

They became aware of their rights, as well as the responsibilities that go with them. They became secure in themselves and showed a sense of self -worthiness. Parents became aware of the rights of their children with disabilities. They became more understanding and accepting of the condition of their respective children. They became more involved in advocating and implementing the inclusion of children with disabilities in their communities. This was done through

• positive discipline
• culinary arts training
• personality development
• image rhetoric
• pastry making
• leadership and social media responsibility
• theory of change and social business
• leadership training

They are now inclusively engaging with the broader community to advocate and uplift the dignity of people with disabilities as an integral part of society. It has brought ULIKID closer to its ultimate impact: to open a clearer understanding of individual differences and give more open communication to families as well as to the community.