Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities!

This year, as we celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we are proud to present the third edition of the ENGAGE newsletter. This edition highlights the growth in knowledge, experiences, and praxis demonstrated by young women and girls with disabilities in India, Vietnam, and South Africa over the past three years. As we enter the final year of this project, we aim to share critical insights, initiatives, and practices that participants in each site have developed through their engagement in different aspects of the project. While each local research team takes unique steps toward mobilizing project outcomes with relevant stakeholders and communities, we reaffirm the importance of sustaining our commitment to learning with and from diverse contexts, people, and communities across the Global South as part of our shared journey.  

This journey would not have been possible without the dedication and support of ENGAGE partners, researchers, stakeholders, community members, and, most importantly, the young women and girls with disabilities in the three project sites. As reflected in the updates below, these young women and girls have shown that they can actively contribute to knowledge creation with their peers, networks, and communities. Their efforts underscore a decolonial and transformative approach to leadership and activism, challenging traditional narratives and paving the way for inclusive change.  

Additionally, we are excited to share research outcomes from related initiatives, such as the Engendering Disability-Inclusive Development (EDID) project focusing on the Vietnam case study, along with updates on partners’ activities and knowledge mobilization efforts. By expanding our learning networks, we ensure that each step we take contributes to creating decolonial spaces for knowledge production and collective activism, fostering the potential for social transformation in marginalized communities across the Global South.  

Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities! 

In solidarity, 

Xuan Thuy Nguyen 

Associate Professor and ENGAGE’s project director 

Decolonial Disability Studies Collective (DDSC) 

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