The Natural Diamond Manufacturer That Sparkles with Opportunity

Today, over a third of the company’s employees are living with a disability

Of Namibia’s 2.5 million population, more than half are unemployed and more than 100,000 live with some form of disability, putting them at an even greater disadvantage when it comes to job opportunities. One natural diamond cutting, and polishing company decided to do something about it. The project began in…

Rwanda: Union of the Blinds recognizes TOPAFRICANEWS contribution in advocacy that yielded into the ratification of Marrakesh Treaty

The Marrakesh Treaty was put in place to facilitate access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled

The Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB) has thanked TOPAFRICANEWS (www.TOPAFRICANEWS.com) and other stakeholders for their role in advocacy for the request of the National Authority to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty. According to the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda n° 27 of 07/09/2020, the law N° 013/2020 of…

Coronavirus - Somalia: Floods drive over 650,000 Somalis from their homes in 2020

More than 150,000 Somalis have been forced to flee their homes since late June, including some 23,000 in the last week alone

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Charlie Yaxley – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. More than 150,000 Somalis have been forced to flee their homes since late June, including some 23,000…

Coronavirus - South Africa: Premier Alan Winde on Coronavirus COVID-19 update for 2 August

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 35 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3105

As of 1pm on 2 August, the Western Cape has 10 630 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 94 691 confirmed cases and 80 956 recoveries. Total confirmed COVID-19 cases 94691 Total recoveries 80956 Total deaths 3105 Total active cases (currently infected patients) 10630 Tests conducted 421358 Hospitalisations 1450…

Coronavirus - Uganda: Denmark contributes US$1 million to cash relief for refugees in Kampala

Refugees in Kampala struggling because of the socio-economic impact of lockdowns to contain the spread of COVID-19

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) received US$1 million from the Government of Denmark today to assist refugees in Kampala struggling because of the socio-economic impact of lockdowns to contain the spread of COVID-19. WFP began delivering cash assistance to an initial group of Kampala-based refugees on 5 June.…

Coronavirus - Cameroon: 145 Commonwealth Points of Light

Her Majesty The Queen recognises Cameroonian volunteer with Commonwealth Points of Light award for service during COVID-19 pandemic

The story of Comfort Mussa - Comfort Mussa is the founder of SISTERSPEAK237, which supports disabled and vulnerable people in Yaounde by coordinating the provision of hand sanitisers and masks, and sharing key messaging around COVID-19. Comfort has also started a project across the seven regions of Cameroon to ensure that…

Coronavirus - Morocco: In the midst of coronavirus, USAID/Morocco supports distance learning for deaf and hard of hearing students

Increased recognition of Moroccan Sign Language (MSL) as a language by providing training to teachers and administrators on MSL

“When COVID-19 hit Morocco and the schools closed, we quickly shifted to distance learning with the main goal of providing continued learning for our students”, said Mr. Boukili, the inclusive education official at Morocco’s Ministry of Education. “We soon realized we were only focusing on the tip of the iceberg!”…

Coronavirus - Sierra Leone: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) hands over 32 motorbikes to Ministry of Social Welfare

The handover of the motorbikes is timely as the current COVID-19 pandemic is presenting yet another threat to the protection and wellbeing of children

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Sierra Leone has handed over thirty-two (32) brand new motorbikes to boost the Ministry of Social Welfare’s capacity to provide Psychosocial Support Services in the current COVID-19 response. The motorbikes will be dispatched to Social Workers in all the 16 districts to support…

Coronavirus - Kenya: Initiative to assist the mentally disabled for COVID-19 testing

An initiative has been started in Mombasa to assist the mentally disabled to be tested for COVID-19. We thank Mama Amina Abdallah, the chairperson of Mombasa Women Empowerment Network for this act of humanity.

Innovate Now Accelerator Programme Seeks Mobile Solutions to Assist Persons with Disabilities

Programme opens submissions for second cohort with focus on mobile as a bridge to assistive technology

Innovate Now (www.atInnovateNow.com), Africa’s first Assistive Technology Accelerator is seeking applications from innovators across the African continent who are dedicated to developing mobile based technologies designed to assist people living with disabilities. The UK Aid-funded programme, which is run by Global Disability Innovation (GDI) Hub (www.DisabilityInnovation.com) and Amref Enterprises Limited,…