From the Chair of the Program Steering Committee

Elly Barrett

'It's not my disability that is a problem but people's attitudes towards me that makes my life difficult' is a comment from a South African man whose story is featured in this year's AACES Annual Report, and which highlights one of the key barriers people with disability face to improving their quality of life.

With the AACES partnership program focused on reaching the most marginalised people in Africa, it is vital that people with disability, who are typically among the very poorest and most excluded, are considered and included in our program work. This year's AACES annual report highlights the progress that has been made in year two of the program overall, with a Elly Barrett special focus on how AACES partners have addressed disability inclusion.

As someone who has been involved in the AACES partnership from the design stage, it has been inspiring to read about how much has been achieved and learned in the second year of the program, and how the strengths of the communities and countries we are working with, and those of the AACES partners, have been drawn upon to improve our program work.

Tens of thousands of additional people have received improved access to services in the areas of food security, maternal and child health, and water, sanitation and hygiene. There has also been a strengthening of the environment in order to increase the sustainability of these services with improvements to policies, governance and awareness of rights.

As the Program Steering Committee Chair and a participant of the AACES program, it has been rewarding to see how the partnership has continued to strengthen in its second year. AACES partners have collaborated on a number of issues, sharing learnings, expertise and resources to better respond to the complexities of their development work. Looking to the year ahead we are in a strong position to use the experience of the AACES partnership to focus the priorities going forward and to promote sustainable access to services for marginalised people in Africa.

Elly Barrett
Chairperson, Program Steering Committee, 2013–14

From a Program Participant

Akurut Stella Rose washing utensils at her home.
Photo: Moses Okwameri / ActionAid

My name is Akurut Stella Rose and I am 20 years old from Nyakoi village, Kumi district in Uganda. In 2012, group members from my farmer field school, the Aikeun STAR circle, selected me as a beneficiary of two and a half basins of unshelled groundnuts after I was involved in a marriage that did not go well.

My husband used to beat me, never provided for our family and above all neglected me because I am disabled (lame leg) and not educated. When he found another woman who was educated and physically able, he called me stupid and not of his class.

After receiving gender-based violence training provided by ActionAid, I am more aware of my rights and options, and it has encouraged me to speak out.

The knowledge and skills I received about groundnut growing enabled me to begin growing peanuts. I planted the seeds and harvested seven bags of unshelled groundnuts. For three bags of shelled groundnuts I earned 2,500 Ugandan shillings [AUD1.11] per kilogram, totalling 210,000 shillings [AUD93]. I added this to my business of selling porridge to people on market days in Ongino Sub County.

In addition, I invested 50,000 shillings [AUD22.12] into my business, which returned enough profit to buy a cow at 300,000 shillings [AUD133]. I retained four bags of peanuts – two bags I reserved for seed for planting in 2013 and gave back to the group two and half basins.

The groundnuts revolve within our 45 members and it has encouraged [us] to further work in groups when it comes to weeding and harvesting. Participating in this program has helped increase my food security, developed my skills and given me a voice within my community.'