Children with disabilities are among the absolutely vulnerable population. Not only in Europe, but especially also in countries of the Global South. They very often are denied the basic rights of education, sometimes they even keep being locked in their houses. The project SIEP (Capacity Strenghtening for Inclusive Education Programme in Shashemene) in the Ethiopian Oromia region aims to create a better future through enhanced access to education, and social and economic inclusion opportunities for children with disabilities in Shashamene city and its surrounding, targeting 450 children with disabilities (220 females and 230 males) living in two sub cities of Shashemene City within the timeframe of 5 years (until mid of 2028). The project aims to promote inclusive education and the integration of people with disabilities in schools and among communities and creates a better future, with a special focus on visually impaired children. It starts with the development of an inclusion strategy, trying to find the best way to achieve successful outcomes for physical and human capacities of Shashemene Catholic School for the Blind and one model Catholic school - which will serve as a center of excellence for children with a disability. This will be complemented with various training and awareness-raising events for schools, government stakeholders and communities – in order to build a just and inclusive society for all.
