For the longest time, people with disability have faced discrimination in Masheedze village in Zimbabwe, which has prevented them from accessing basic health services and participating in community development initiatives. The community has excluded people with disability from communal life; some have even been locked indoors by their guardians who perceive them as shameful to the community.

Plan International has promoted a supportive environment for people with disability so that they can access maternal and child health services and has greater influence and engagement with decision-makers.

Andrew Masheedze, village head of Masheedze, is one of many community members who have taken part in training sessions on disability and gender issues facilitated by Plan. The training has opened Andrew's eyes to the plight of people with disability in his community. 'I was surprised that there were households who had people with disability that I did not know about, despite my position as the village head,' he says.

In spite of the fact that it has been taboo to talk about disability in his community, Andrew is determined to champion the rights of people with disability. Through Plan's support, a community-based rehabilitation committee, comprising five people with disability, has been formed to advocate for the rights of people with disability as well as address stigma and fear about disability.

'We began to conduct door-to-door visits targeting people with disability and their guardians. Slowly they began to attend meetings and participate in community activities. We also visited people sometimes to counsel them and at times to empower them with knowledge on services available to them and how to demand their rights,' says Andrew. 'Some parents and guardians allowed us into their homes to see and counsel people with disability who had been hidden for fear of stigma.'

Hearing about the changes taking place in Andrew's community, representatives from the Department of Social Services and the Rehabilitation Department of Chipinge Hospital have visited the village. In partnership with Plan they are helping to set up more community-based rehabilitation committees with representation from people with disability. Andrew says Plan's training has helped him to be a better village head and a better father.

'My dispute resolution skills have been sharpened and I am now able to look at women differently, knowing that they are a vital part of community development. In fact, I now have a woman who is a policewoman–something very rare in my culture. The community is now alert about domestic violence and always raises the alarm whenever a case occurs,' he says. Plan's training of traditional leaders has enabled them to govern in an equitable and inclusive manner, which has strengthened community engagement and participation in development activities.