Earlier this summer, we introduced our 2025 cohort of the Access to Exchange Externship! These four externs each came up with innovative ideas to further NCDE’s mission to promote the participation of people with disabilities in international exchange. Over recent months, they have been hard at work bringing their ideas to fruition.
First, we’re delighted to share the outcomes reported by Harunah Damba, our extern in Uganda!
The Motivation
As someone who strongly identifies with the disability community and who traveled to the United States on a fellowship program, Harunah was motivated to organize a webinar for individuals with disabilities seeking opportunities to study in the United States:
“In a world abundant with information, many face challenges in obtaining the right information in a format tailored to their needs. I have observed numerous instances where individuals with disabilities experience difficulties accessing crucial information for their professional development, such as pursuing studies abroad. This limitation not only erodes their self-confidence but also deprives them of opportunities to empower themselves to address their challenges.
Thus, my interest in the Access to Exchange Externships stems from a desire to bridge this informational gap and equip individuals with disabilities with the right information they need for international opportunities. Having been part of international exchange programs, including the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement, I am particularly interested in sharing my experience and insights gained from these opportunities.”
Harunah set about identifying international exchange alumni with diverse types of disabilities who could present as panelists – fortunately, he knows many! He then teamed up with United Persons with Disabilities (UPDS), which helped promote the webinar to the disability community across Uganda and beyond! As a result, the session attracted 137 registrants in 15 countries in Africa and beyond! Of these:
- 96% of participants identified as persons with disabilities.
- 5.8% interested in pursuing PhD studies.
- 54.7% aspiring to pursue master’s degrees.
- 32.1% aspiring to pursue bachelor’s degrees.
For communication access, NCDE arranged for live captioning and sign language interpretation support during the webinar.
The Session
The Study Abroad Alumni Session was an interactive online event that brought together several distinguished alumni from various international exchange and scholarship programs:
- Dr. Patrick Ojok (Uganda), Fulbright & Norad Scholar
- Gorretti Byomire (Uganda), Mandela Washington Fellow
- Denis Ouma (Uganda), Professional Fellows program on Inclusive Civic Engagement | Chevening Scholar
- Michael Martin (Malawi), Saulos Klaus Chilima Foundation Scholar
- Zebib Hadish Baraki (Ethiopia), Australian Awards Scholar
- Hanifah Nalwoga (Uganda), Sasakawa Nippon Foundation Scholar
The webinar was also expertly moderated by Mercy Koti Fri of Cameroon, who is a Next Generation Leader of the For Youth, By Youth Movement.
The alumni shared personal narratives spanning their experiences studying and traveling abroad. They described how they selected their programs, how they prepared for their journeys, what they encountered during their time abroad, and how their disabilities shaped those experiences. Several panelists reflected on the lasting impact of their exchange experiences on their careers and disability advocacy:
“What stood out was the proactive approach to accommodations. At the University of Arizona, for example, disability was not treated as an afterthought… the entire systems worked seamlessly to promote equity… It gave me a stronger drive to adapt these practices in my country, not just physically but systemically.” –Denis Ouma, on participating in the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement
The alumni emphasized that selection for international opportunities considers leadership potential and social impact, and they encouraged participants to focus on demonstrating their unique contributions and commitment to making a difference.
Outcomes
The session boosted the confidence of many participants who had long believed that disability might be a stumbling block, limiting their chances of accessing study abroad opportunities. In a post-webinar survey, participants reflected:
“I learned that we, as persons with disabilities, can compete equally with others, as long as we demonstrate commitment to making a positive impact in our communities.” – Webinar participant
“We should apply for all opportunities that come our way, no matter whether they are disability-focused or not.” – Webinar participant
In response to the session, participants created a WhatsApp group, which has since attracted several mentors committed to providing continued guidance and support. Many participants recommended organizing future sessions with focused themes, such as common mistakes to avoid when applying or reapplying for scholarships, writing effective personal statements, and navigating the overall application process for opportunities abroad.
Congratulations to Harunah, the moderator, and panelists for sparking interest in international exchange opportunities and showing what’s possible among communities of people with disabilities!
Watch the webinar recording on YouTube (English captions available; Ugandan Sign Language-interpreted)
Read Harunah’s final project report as a Word Document or read the report as a PDF
Read about Harunah’s personal experience as an exchange participant of the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement in the U.S.!
