The Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement
Fellows' Blog
Each year, a new cohort of disability rights professionals (Fellows) from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia travels to the US to participate in a five-week Fellowship Program on inclusive civic engagement. Each Fellow writes a blog about their experiences during the Fellowship. US hosts have the option to travel to Fellows’ home countries for a two-week technical assistance trip, providing additional support. These Outbound Fellows also contribute a blog post about their experiences and the impact of their work abroad. We invite you to read about our Fellows, learn more, and consider getting involved with PFP.
My Journey in Alaska: Its Beauty and Natural, Breathtaking Landscapes
Published:
Country: Tanzania
This long-awaited journey started on May 3, 2023 when I landed in Boston and received a warm welcome from Heike and Christa, our very own PFP team leads who have been very supportive and made sure this was a dream-come-true trip.
Read more...Embracing Inclusion and Empowerment: My Unforgettable Fellowship Experience
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Country:
I have a lot to say about this Fellowship, because it is one of a kind and is full of people with high skills and understanding of issues related to the inclusion of people with disabilities in different fields. I was very comforted by the process of preparing for my trip and the welcoming I received on May 4, 2023 at the Boston airport.
Read more...How the Professional Fellows Program Provided a New Perspective
Published:
Country: Kenya
When I arrived in Boston in the afternoon of September 29, 2022, I had no idea how the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement would relate to my study of National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) coverage of urinary and bowel incontinence supplies for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Little did I know, for me to pursue anyone — either the NHIF or individuals with SCI — I needed to be equipped with advocacy skills.
Read more...First Time Travel to the United States: The Experience of a Professional Fellow
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Country: Uganda
This Fellowship experience has been a dream come true! Traveling to the US for the first time, I was anxious and unsure about what to expect but excited at the same time.
Read more...Living and Learning in Mississippi
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Country: Ethiopia
I am Emebet Girma, a Disability Inclusion Officer in Ethiopia. I am working on promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in various development agendas and supporting mainstream organizations to become more inclusive of persons with disabilities.
Read more...Unlearning to Learn to Strike a Balance With New Knowledge to Forge Ahead
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Country: Kenya
I write as I reminisce of the good old days when my pals from high school and I would one day relocate to the USA in search of milk and honey, a land of greener pastures. I am at the Pueblo De La Cienega dormitory at the University of Arizona (UA). I guess I finally made it to the UA, not by relocation, but as a Fellow in the Professional Fellows Program.
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