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The ICI-UMass Boston partners with the US Department of State on the Professional Fellows Program. We are reviewing this website to ensure compliance with recent executive orders and other guidance.

Professional Fellows - Spring 2024 Cohort

Meet our Spring 2024 Cohort of Professional Fellows! This group of 10 accomplished disability professionals from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda completed an intensive five-week Fellowship Program between May and June 2024 in the US.

Learn more about our Fellows, their follow-on projects, and Fellowship experiences.

  • Caroline K Makena

    An African woman with long, black hair is wearing dark-rimmed glasses and a navy-blue dress.

    Head of Partnerships and Fundraising, Link 4 Change

    Caroline serves as the Head of Partnerships and Fundraising at Link 4 Change, a social enterprise in Kenya.

    Caroline completed her Fellowship placement at the University of Southern Mississippi's Institute for Disability Studies (IDS). Her follow-on project aimed to address challenges in the workplace by collaborating with employers and providing them with practical tools to assess and improve the accessibility of their recruitment and hiring processes.

  • Vera R Machera

    An African woman with black hair is wearing black earrings and a colorful black-brown flower print blouse as she poses for a photo against a blue background.

    Program Officer, Women Challenged to Challenge (WCC)

    Vera serves as a Program Officer at Women Challenged to Challenge (WCC), a nonprofit organization in Nairobi, Kenya, focused on supporting women and girls with disabilities.

    Vera completed a Fellowship placement at Temple University's  Institute on Disabilities. Her follow-on project focused on preventing and addressing violence against girls and women with disabilities in Migori County, Kenya.

  • Ombati Elizabeth Nyabiage

    An African woman with short, dreaded hair is wearing a yellow and red scarf, a black top, and a flower print skirt. She is sitting on the sofa with large potted plants behind her.

    Program Assistant, Kenya Network of Women and Girls with Disabilities

    Elizabeth serves as a Program Assistant at the Kenya Network of Women and Girls with Disabilities, leading a project to increase the engagement of women with disabilities in community activities and leadership roles.

    Elizabeth completed a Fellowship placement at the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities (KUCDD). Her follow-on project focused on encouraging women with disabilities to participate in local governance and advocate for their rights.

  • Josephine Namirimu

    An African woman with short hair is wearing an African print blouse, taking a selfie while sitting in the office.

    Former Communications and Advocacy Officer, Cheshire Services Uganda

    Josephine was the Communications and Advocacy Officer at Cheshire Services Uganda, where she led the organization's advocacy strategy development and implementation.

    Josephine completed a Fellowship placement at the Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) in Boston, Massachusetts. Her follow-on project focused on helping youth with disabilities advocate for education through tailored informational materials, training, storytelling, and policy engagement.

  • Denis Ouma

    An African man with a beard is wearing a white shirt and black trousers. He is sitting in a wheelchair in a lounge area.

    Chief Executive Officer, Embellish Consults Limited

    Denis is the Chief Executive Officer of Embellish Consults Limited in Kampala, Uganda. He leads a team of disability experts, working to promote disability access as a business opportunity.

    Denis completed a Fellowship placement at the University of Arizona's Sonoran Center for Excellence on Disabilities. His follow-on project focused on improving disability support in higher education by recruiting students and mentors, offering tailored training, and refining policies.

  • Erick E Mukiza 

    An African man with short hair and stubble is wearing a white shirt, a black suit, and a dark purple tie.

    Executive Director, ESS Creative and Legal Foundation, Permanent Court Certified Mediator

    Erick, Founder and Executive Director of ESS Creative and Legal Foundation, is dedicated to advancing accessible mediation as a Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) professional for people with disabilities and a Certified Court Mediator.

    Erick completed a Fellowship placement at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). Erick’s follow-on project aimed to promote ADR as a more efficient and cost-effective way for people with disabilities to access the legal system, focusing specifically on improving access for women who are deaf or hard of hearing through assistive technology and training.

  • Clara P Maliwa

    An African woman with strawberry blond hair is wearing dark-rimmed glasses and a dark turquoise blouse. She poses sideways with her hands crossed, looking at the camera with a smile.

    Former Project Officer, Young & Alive Initiative 

    Clara was a Project Officer at Young & Alive Initiative, a nonprofit organization in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, focused on self-determination and health.

    Clara completed a Fellowship placement at Disability Rights California (DRC), Sacramento Office. Her follow-on project “My Story, My Life” aimed to help women with disabilities understand their rights and make informed decisions about their well-being.

  • Eva E Chuwa  

    An African woman with short hair is wearing glasses and a navy-blue top, with her hands crossed.

    Special Needs Education Teacher,  Al Muntazir Special Education Needs

    Eva is a Special Needs Education Teacher at Al Muntazir Special Education Needs, specializing in educating children (ages 4–7) with autism to prepare them for mainstream settings.

    Eva completed a Fellowship placement at the University of Oklahoma's Health Science Center (HSC). Her follow-on project aimed to improve teacher training on autism and engage parents in Tanzania’s academic context, drawing on best practices from the US.

  • Shadrack T Manyogote

    An African man with short black hair and facial hair. He is wearing a blue shirt and smiling.

    Director, Child in Protection and Disabilities Foundation

    Shadrack directs the Child in Protection and Disabilities Foundation, a Tanzanian nonprofit organization focused on children’s rights.

    Shadrack completed a Fellowship placement at Ohio State University's Nisonger Center. His follow-on project aimed to reduce dropout rates among children with disabilities in primary schools by training teachers and providing resources for classroom instruction.

  • Moses Serwadda

    An African man with short black hair wearing a white jacket and smiling at the camera

    Program Manager, Uganda Federation for the Hard of Hearing (UFHOH)

    Moses is the Program Manager at the Uganda Federation for the Hard of Hearing (UFHOH), an umbrella advocacy organization for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing in Uganda.

    Moses completed a Fellowship placement at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). His follow-on project aimed to train youth with disabilities in Uganda to advocate for political participation, in collaboration with the Uganda Electoral Commission, to address their specific needs.