Using solutions journalism, we build bridges for inclusive communities, bringing the disability agenda to the media landscape. We are a news organ shining light on disability inclusion in Africa. We bring together Story Tellers and Journalist with disabilities from around the continent, arming them to tell the disability side of the story. We are inspired by the fact that no one can tell our story better than we ourselves. Our philosophy is build on the believe that what is good for persons with disabilities is good for humanity. Our Mission is to build bridges for inclusive communities in Africa through Solutions Journalism. We envisage an Africa in which persons with disabilities have equitable access to Quality Information, Education, Technology, Healthcare, Employment, Transport, Sports, Humanitarian assistance, Shelter, Political participation, Peacebuilding endeavours, Social inclusion and Justice. Our Motor is Equity and Inclusion. Our Values.
`Our Values are Empathy, Humanity, Equity, Justice and Peace. Our Vision is to ensure that disability inclusion in Africa moves from abstract to concrete action reflected through reasonable accommodation, community participation and every-day-life. We believe in the ability in disability and building an enabling environment for persons with impairments to thrive is our biggest dream. We welcome support from organisations and individuals to enable us equip young journalists with the requisite knowledge and skills, and as well, the holding of an All Disability Journalists Convention in Africa. Our fellowship. To groom passionate Story Tellers and Journalists who hunger to accelerate disability inclusion through solution’s journalism, we have develop a short rigorous fellowship with resources to sustain the vision of DNA. The yearly fellowship is opened to youth journalists with disabilities between the age of 18 and 35 who demonstrate valuable ideas and willingness to contribute stories which would reduce negative societal perceptions, building more disability conscious citizens in Africa. The trainees will have the opportunity to be groomed by experts and mentors carefully selected by DNA. Persons with disabilities, despite being among the most affected in times of conflicts remain excluded from Peacebuilding and humanitarian intervention schemes. Triggered by growing negative societal perceptions expressed through discrimination and exclusion from mainstream activities, Leaders of Foundation for the Inclusion and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities first thought of the idea to create a Disability Inclusion news organ in 2021. The idea was further inspired by the underrepresentation of the disability agenda within the African media landscape. We recognise the power of the media in driving social change and have an unchanging conviction that the situation of persons with disabilities is not an exception. Having reflected on the best possible way of unravelling the ability in disability, while crushing negative perceptions surrounding the concept of disability in Africa, we felt that empowering story Tellers and Journalists with disabilities to tell the disability side of the story was a duty. For two years, we built a holistic model to sustain the vision while connecting and sharing the idea with Organisations, individuals and disabled Journalists around the continent to capture and consider their perspective about the project. The name Disability News Africa was adopted in August 2022, and since then our team has worked hard to make the dream come true. After much ground work, DNA officially went operational in February 2024 with its holistic solution journalism approach to disability inclusion, recognising that the narrative of disabled people in the continent would only change when journalist with disabilities learn how to tell the disability side of the story. DNA operates as the media arm of the Foundation for the Inclusion and Empowerment of Persons With disabilities, a not for profit organisation with head office in Cameroon, championing meaningful inclusion and equitable participation of children and youth with disabilities in mainstream activities.
