Some PWDs during the training
The Debbie Kauna Foundation (DKF) in Adamawa state has empowered 306 persons with disabilities (PWDs) through vocational training.
The initiative, which concluded last weekend, targeted Michika and Madagali LGAs, where locals had been displaced by the insurgency.
Deborah Bubwa, DKF founder, spoke about tailoring the programme to the needs of locals.
“We asked them what they could do easily and what would sell locally,” she said.
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Beneficiaries chose skills like tailoring, poultry farming, shoemaking, and rice processing.
Over six weeks, DKF’s team conducted house-to-house visits to identify those most in need. Selected participants received entrepreneurship training, opened bank accounts, and were paired with mentors.
The programme aimed to break the cycle of dependency.
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“This programme is about ending the cycle of begging and restoring pride,” Bubwa explained.
Olaniyi Aderibigbe from UN Women, praised the initiative as a step towards dignity and self-sufficiency.
“We trained and equipped 253 women and 53 men to help them rebuild their lives and support their families,” he said.
Hauwa Vandu, one of the beneficiaries, expressed profound gratitude.
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“I used to think no one saw me,” she said. “Now I know I matter.”
The event culminated in the distribution of start-up kits, marking a fresh start for many.
