The main objective of the project is to increase the capacity of young people with disabilities, as potential leaders who are involved in formal political contestation, such as Election of Village Heads, Election of Regional Head (Governor/Major), Legislative election and general election.

To achieve the objectives and the impact of the project, INISIATIS employs participatory approaches to analyse (by comparing) the election policy with the factual implementation, to conduct capacity strengthening activities, to build the institution of civic and political learning centers, and to establish and institutionalise communication strategies as a communication channel to support voices of people with disabilities as voices in democracy.

The project steps consist participatory study of the election policy and its implementation at the district level, identify potential youths with disabilities, capacity strengthening  and developing campaign strategies to strengthen the leadership of youth persons with disabilities for democracy.

From April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020, the Kids with Disability Leadership project reached 124 youth with disabilities through a baseline study for 100 youth with disabilities and a hundred individuals through political opportunity structure research to be utilized as the baseline information. Through capacity building, 24 rightsholders groups from kids with three disabilities and 26 youth with disability parents have been involved. In addition, two (two) disability person organizations (DPOs) and two election institutions are involved in this initiative.  

Research and stakeholder involvement are two successful approach strategies for accomplishing this project. Research activities provide basic data and information to address issues that are lacking as a concern, as well as make it easier to provide understanding of key stakeholders to be proactively involved, such as election institutions and DPOs, with lobbying and negotiations based on data and information as a tool to persuade every stakeholder in achieving mutual benefits from the project.

The project’s most important modifications have inspired the finest four (four) disabled young applicants to make minor adjustments in their social surroundings. After attending capacity-building serials such as Disability Young Leadership School and Democracy Camp, four young candidates with disabilities have changed. To put it another way, the four young people with impairments have figured out how to deal with worry or concerns about their difficulties (social anxiety) by boosting their self-esteem. They are also capable of expressing leadership characteristics in social interactions (expressiveness). Thus, the four young candidates with disabilities made minor adjustments that represented their political awareness, as evaluated by their attention or interest, knowledge, and understanding of the lesson they earned from the capacity building series. And the presence and support of their parents, who are also participating in the capacity development series as participants and companions, may make a huge difference. 

The ultimate impacts of this project are improving the ability to deal with anxiety and worry about the problems faced by young people with disabilities by generating self-confidence and providing space to express leadership in social interaction to demonstrate ability and potential in expressing their aspirations and opinions as their political rights, as well as providing space to express leadership in social interaction to demonstrate ability and potential in expressing their aspirations and opinions as their political rights. More importantly, the influence on parents encourages them to learn about the nature and possibilities of the restrictions that their children face. The tale of Aulia (22 years old), a blind woman, and her mother, Mrs. Yusie Ega (45 years old), who can confidently discuss their political goals and the significance of knowledge of equal political rights on a television talkshow program.