Raising our voices together has made us powerful!
In Afar, persons with disabilities have long faced exclusion and barriers. With support from #CBM and ORDA Ethiopia, change has begun. In 2025, the first Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) was legally registered—uniting 34 founders into a movement that has now grown to 200+ members.
Through collective savings of ETB 50,000 and the launch of a retail shop, members are building sustainable livelihoods while advocating for inclusion in local development. Their voices are now heard by government, humanitarian partners, and communities across the region.
This OPD stands as a powerful example of how unity, vision, and support can transform challenges into opportunities for equality and lasting change.