Five women, physically-challenged, are erasing stereotypes by empowering people

Five women, physically-challenged, are erasing stereotypes by empowering people

Differently-abled is a euphemism these women dislike. Despite facing several challenges, they are empowering people and making a difference in their lives. They want to prove why it is important to listen to disabled people for an inclusive society.  

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, MetroPlus speaks to some of the women leading the way and empowering men and women.

(Co-founder, kanthari)

Visually-disabled Sabriye strides ahead with her white cane, forging forward in directions where many would hesitate. Co-founded by Sabriye in the green environs of Vellayani in Thiruvananthapuram in 2009, kanthari (www.kanthari.org) imparts leadership training to equip their students (she calls them participants) to be changemakers in different fields. A year-long curriculum with immersive, hands-on training helps “participants to be changemakers in their countries,” says Sabriye.

“We have had 280 participants, from 55 countries. The youngest was 21, the oldest, 66. There were graduates and non-graduates, those with different disabilities and they came from all kinds of socio-economic backgrounds. They were all marginalised for different reasons. Some came from war zones, tribal conflict areas; some were on the streets…Now, they are leading the change” she says with evident pride. 

She talks about “amazing women, women who have faced different kinds of violence but were not crushed.”

“They are standing up and starting to change mindsets, not only of men but of women who thought it was normal to be oppressed. We had people with disability who rebelled against being seen as objects of charity but wanted to do something good for the world.”