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Professional Fellows - Spring 2023 Cohort

Meet our Spring 2023 Cohort of Professional Fellows! This group of six accomplished disability rights leaders from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda completed an intensive five-week Fellowship Program between May and June 2023 in the US.

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

  • Bakar O Hamad

    Photo of Fellow Bakar Omar Hamad

    Acting Executive Director, Women with Disabilities in Zanzibar (JUWAUZA)

    Bakar serves as the acting executive director of Women with Disabilities in Zanzibar (JUWAUZA), a nonprofit organization that advocates for the rights of women and girls with disabilities through awareness raising, training, and capacity building.

    Bakar completed his Fellowship at the University of Iowa Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD). His follow-on project, titled Haki Yangu or My Right, is focused on increasing participation of people with disabilities, particularly women with disabilities, in political decision-making and monitoring in Zanzibar. Read about Bakar’s experience!

  • Clara S Muchunguzi

    Photo of Fellow Clara Sima Muchunguzi

    Program Coordinator, Restless Development

    Clara works as a program coordinator for Restless Development, a nonprofit organization that supports the collective power of young leaders to bring about positive change in their communities. For the past six years, Clara has been leading the implementation of various youth development programs.

    Clara completed her Fellowship at the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development (CHD). Her follow-on project is focused on creating more opportunities for Tanzanian youth, particularly youth with disabilities, to actively participate in decision-making that may affect their lives. Read about Clara's experience!

  • Erick S Oduor

    Photo of Fellow Erick Sande Oduor

    Program Officer, United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK)

    Erick currently works as a program officer for United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK). UDPK is the national federation of organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in Kenya, advocating for inclusion and active participation of persons with disabilities in development processes and in all spheres of life.

    Erick completed his Fellowship at the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development (CHD). His follow-on project is focused on promoting a culture of meaningful and inclusive participation of people with disabilities and their organizations in budgetary processes in Kenya. Read about Erick’s experience!

  • Rashid Kalule

    Photo of Fellow Rashid Kalule

    Disability Inclusion Facilitator, Jinja District Union of Persons with Disabilities (JIDU)

    Rashid serves as the disability inclusion facilitator for the Jinja District Union of Persons with Disabilities (JIDU), a non-governmental organization that advocates for rehabilitative services and assistive devices for people with disabilities.

    Rashid completed his Fellowship at Work Inc., a disability employment service provider located in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Rashid’s follow-on project seeks to increase the number of persons with cerebral palsy engaged in disability advocacy and lobbying activities. Read about Rashid’s experience! 

  • Teopista Nannyanzi

    Photo of Fellow Teopista Nannyanzi

    Project Coordinator,
    Pan African Network of People with Psychosocial Disabilities (PANPPD)

    Teopista was a project coordinator for the Pan African Network for People with Psychosocial Disabilities (PANPPD), which represents and advocates for the rights of persons living with psychosocial disabilities in Africa. Her work focused on identifying challenges that persons with psychosocial disabilities have faced because of COVID-19.

    Teopista completed her Fellowship at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in Arlington, Virginia. Her follow-on project aims to advocate for political participation and representation for persons with psychosocial disabilities in Uganda. Read about Teopista’s experience!

  • Nina H Mago

    Nina Halima Mago, a Ugandan woman wearing a collared shirt and small hoop earrings, smiling.

    Founder and Chief Executive Officer,
    Purple Bench Initiative (PBI) Uganda

    Nina is the founder and chief executive officer of Purple Bench Initiative (PBI) Uganda, a pioneering organization led by patients that is dedicated to raising epilepsy awareness in Uganda.

    Nina completed her Fellowship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Her follow-on project aims to promote advocacy and awareness about epilepsy at various levels of society to foster active participation and inclusion of people with epilepsy in the education system. Specific activities include public awareness campaigns, public meetings and workshops, and public education through community and grassroots training. Read about Nina's experience!