{"id":1758,"date":"2025-05-27T19:21:12","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T19:21:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/?page_id=1758"},"modified":"2026-09-18T15:15:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T15:15:44","slug":"diwas-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/diwas-story\/","title":{"rendered":"DIWA\u2019s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1758\" class=\"elementor elementor-1758\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5fc5fdaa elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-bottom elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5fc5fdaa\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-655616bd\" data-id=\"655616bd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52993b87 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"52993b87\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">DIWA\u2019s Story<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4051255 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4051255\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85a7145 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"85a7145\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfe666b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bfe666b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Journey of Bold Leadership, Inclusion &amp; Transformation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd06798 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cd06798\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"668\" data-end=\"961\">In the early 2000s, a small group of African women with disabilities realized that even within the disability movement, their voices were often sidelined. Gender inequality and disability discrimination were combining to create deep, persistent barriers\u2014and no one was addressing them head-on.<\/p><p data-start=\"963\" data-end=\"1222\">In 2002, these visionary women came together as a subcommittee under the Pan African Federation of the Disabled (PAFOD). Their goal was simple but powerful: to carve out space for women with disabilities to organize, advocate, and lead their own movement.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-926d0b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"926d0b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA) was born from a vision: that women and girls with disabilities in Africa should not just be seen or heard\u2014but should lead. Our story is one of resilience, unity, and the power of\u00a0<span style=\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\">self-representation.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9267f55 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9267f55\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0e4a10 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f0e4a10\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pic1-683x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4525\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pic1-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pic1-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pic1-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pic1.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f068b3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8f068b3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78065005 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"78065005\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cd74c6b e-flex e-con-boxed elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6cd74c6b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInLeft&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27e962bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"27e962bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Meet the founder of DIWA<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e644c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1e644c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FB_IMG_1749552169344-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-2176\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FB_IMG_1749552169344-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FB_IMG_1749552169344-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FB_IMG_1749552169344.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d1bdb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"8d1bdb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><div class=\"diwa-story\">\n\n  <style>\n    .diwa-story {\n      max-width: 900px;\n      margin: 0 auto;\n      font-family: \"Segoe UI\", Arial, sans-serif;\n      font-size: 18px;\n      line-height: 1.7;\n      color: #333;\n      padding: 2rem;\n    }\n\n    .diwa-story h2 {\n      font-size: 2rem;\n      margin-bottom: 1.5rem;\n      color: #222;\n      text-align: center;\n    }\n\n    .diwa-story p {\n      margin-bottom: 1.2rem;\n    }\n\n    .diwa-story strong {\n      color: #4b2e2e;\n    }\n\n    .diwa-quote {\n      background: #f9f9f9;\n      border-left: 5px solid #4b2e2e;\n      padding: 1rem;\n      margin: 2rem 0;\n      border-radius: 6px;\n      font-size: 1.1rem;\n      color: #444;\n    }\n\n    .diwa-quote .quote-text {\n      font-style: italic;\n      margin-bottom: 0.5rem;\n    }\n\n    .diwa-quote .quote-speaker {\n      text-align: right;\n      font-weight: bold;\n      color: #4b2e2e;\n    }\n\n    \/* Dropdown button *\/\n    .dropdown-btn {\n      background-color: #800080;\n      color: #800080;\n      padding: 10px 15px;\n      border: none;\n      border-radius: 6px;\n      cursor: pointer;\n      margin-bottom: 1rem;\n    }\n\n    .dropdown-content {\n      display: none;\n      margin-top: 1rem;\n    }\n\n    .dropdown-content.active {\n      display: flex;\n      align-items: center;\n      gap: 20px;\n      background: #f7f3f0;\n      padding: 1rem;\n      border-radius: 6px;\n    }\n\n    .dropdown-content img {\n      width: 200px;\n      height: 300px; \/* 4x8 aspect ratio *\/\n      background: #ccc;\n      border-radius: 6px;\n    }\n\n    .highlight-section {\n      display: flex;\n      align-items: center;\n      gap: 20px;\n      background: #f7f3f0;\n      padding: 1rem;\n      border-radius: 6px;\n      margin-top: 2rem;\n    }\n\n    .highlight-image img {\n      max-width: 225px;\n      height: auto;\n      border-radius: 6px;\n    }\n\n    .highlight-text {\n      flex: 2;\n      font-size: 1.1rem;\n      color: #4b2e2e;\n    }\n\n    \/* Mobile-friendly tweaks *\/\n    @media (max-width: 768px) {\n      .dropdown-content {\n        flex-direction: column;\n        text-align: center;\n      }\n      .highlight-section {\n        flex-direction: column;\n        text-align: center;\n      }\n    }\n  <\/style>\n\n  <h2>Our story: Meet our Founder Rachel Kachaje (2002 \u2013 2020)<\/h2>\n\n  <p>The story of Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA) is deeply intertwined with the life and legacy of Rachel Kachaje, a visionary leader, human rights advocate, and trailblazer for women with disabilities across Africa and one of Africa\u2019s most respected champions for equality and justice.<\/p>\n\n  <p>Rachel founded DIWA alongside Maria Lantho and Magret Ncobo in 2002 with a bold vision: to create a continental platform that amplifies the voices of women and girls with disabilities, promotes their leadership, and ensures that disability and gender are no longer treated as separate struggles, but as shared fights for equality, dignity, and justice.<\/p>\n\n  <p>Born in Malawi, Rachel lived with a physical disability that became both her reality and her motivation. She transformed personal experience into activism, rising to become a leading figure in disability rights not only in Malawi but across the African continent and globally.<\/p>\n\n  <p>Rachel\u2019s leadership was marked by humility, compassion, and determination. She served in many leadership roles, including Minister of Disability and Elderly Affairs in Malawi, Chairperson of Disabled Peoples\u2019 International (DPI), and Chair of the Commonwealth Disabled People\u2019s Forum (CDPF). Her advocacy reached COMESA, the United Nations, and governments across the continent, always championing inclusion, opportunity, and empowerment.<\/p>\n\n  <blockquote class=\"diwa-quote\">\n    <div class=\"quote-text\">\u201cWhen women with disabilities lead, societies change for the better.\u201d<\/div>\n    <div class=\"quote-speaker\">\u2013 Rachel Kachaje<\/div>\n  <\/blockquote>\n\n  <!-- Purple dropdown button -->\n  <button class=\"dropdown-btn\" onclick=\"document.querySelector('.dropdown-content').classList.toggle('active')\">\n    Show Honorary Degree\n  <\/button>\n\n  <div class=\"dropdown-content\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ward-rotated.jpeg\" alt=\"Placeholder 4x8\">\n    <div>\n      <p>\n        Rachel Kachaje was posthumously awarded an <strong>Honorary Doctorate Degree<\/strong> by Stellenbosch University, South Africa,\n        in recognition of her lifetime contribution to society and the advancement of disability rights.\n      <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <p>Under her leadership, DIWA grew from an idea into a vibrant continental network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n  <!-- Second-to-last paragraph with image beside text -->\n  <div class=\"highlight-section\">\n    <div class=\"highlight-image\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-28-at-21.52.29-200x300.jpeg\" alt=\"Placeholder image\">\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"highlight-text\">\n      <p>Following Rachel\u2019s passing in 2020, Ruth Mkutumula assumed the role of Executive Director, ushering in a new chapter of institutional growth, governance reform, and movement building. Between 2021 and 2026, DIWA expanded from 12 to 33 member organisations across 22 African countries, strengthened its governance structures, and developed its 2024\u20132029 Strategic Plan. In 2025, DIWA held its General Assembly, reinforcing collective leadership, accountability, and member ownership.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  <!-- Second-to-last paragraph with image beside text -->\n  <div class=\"highlight-section\">\n    <div class=\"highlight-image\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/qoute-ruth.png\" alt=\"Placeholder image\">\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"highlight-text\">\n      <p>DIWA has also strengthened strategic partnerships across the disability rights, feminist, women\u2019s rights, and broader social justice movements, building solidarity and positioning women with disabilities as leaders in interconnected struggles for equality and justice. These efforts have expanded DIWA\u2019s visibility, influence, and participation in regional and global advocacy spaces, amplifying the voices and priorities of African women and girls with disabilities.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n  <blockquote class=\"diwa-quote\">\n    <div class=\"quote-text\">\u201cRachel\u2019s passing was both a moment of grief and of responsibility. We chose to honor her legacy not with silence, but with action.\u201d<\/div>\n    <div class=\"quote-speaker\">\u2013 Ruth Mkutumula<\/div>\n  <\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"highlight-section\">\n    <div class=\"highlight-image\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rachel.png\" alt=\"Placeholder image\">\n    <\/div>  <p>\n        Rachel\u2019s legacy remains the heartbeat of DIWA, inspiring leaders, advocates, and dreamers who carry forward her vision of equality, dignity, and justice for all.\n      <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n  <blockquote class=\"diwa-quote\">\n    <div class=\"quote-text\">\u201cRachel\u2019s legacy lives in every woman who rises, every policy we influence, and every voice that refuses to be silenced.\u201d<\/div>\n    <div class=\"quote-speaker\">\u2013 Wezi Mjojo, outgoing chairperson of DIWA, Malawi<\/div>\n  <\/blockquote>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b67122 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6b67122\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e606d56 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e606d56\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/DIWAs-Journey-1024x683.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4555\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/DIWAs-Journey-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/DIWAs-Journey-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/DIWAs-Journey-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/DIWAs-Journey.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61801561 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"61801561\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36b624b6 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"36b624b6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-69b0bff3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"69b0bff3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Guides Our Story<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dad8f58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5dad8f58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">DIWA\u2019s journey has always been guided by:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-519b426 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"519b426\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38ef21d0 animated-slow e-flex e-con-boxed elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"38ef21d0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;zoomIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c4a6799 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4c4a6799\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e64e2c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4e64e2c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"626\" height=\"626\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/diwa-inclusion.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-shrink attachment-large size-large wp-image-1829\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/diwa-inclusion.png 626w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/diwa-inclusion-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/diwa-inclusion-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-131311b4 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-category-list\" data-id=\"131311b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-category-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con\" >\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72658eed elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"72658eed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Inclusion<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4819494 animated-slow e-con-full e-flex elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4819494\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;zoomIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfa0c68 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bfa0c68\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f00a500 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f00a500\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"626\" height=\"626\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/23.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-shrink attachment-large size-large wp-image-1832\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/23.png 626w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/23-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/23-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b23009f elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-category-list\" data-id=\"b23009f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-category-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con\" >\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50e0942 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"50e0942\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Self-representation<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78b8726f animated-slow e-flex e-con-boxed elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"78b8726f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;zoomIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39d7e21b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"39d7e21b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abc839e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"abc839e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"626\" height=\"626\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/323.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-shrink attachment-large size-large wp-image-1831\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/323.png 626w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/323-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/323-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35136271 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-category-list\" data-id=\"35136271\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-category-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con\" >\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-309e0aad elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"309e0aad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Justice<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43d77eaf animated-slow e-flex e-con-boxed elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"43d77eaf\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;zoomIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15e658ee e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"15e658ee\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e2009f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3e2009f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"626\" height=\"626\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/55.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-shrink attachment-large size-large wp-image-1830\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/55.png 626w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/55-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/55-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64a20c24 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-elementskit-category-list\" data-id=\"64a20c24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"elementskit-category-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ekit-wid-con\" >\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-643d55 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"643d55\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sisterhood<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b5f35b6 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7b5f35b6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5481a29c e-con-full animated-slow e-flex elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5481a29c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;zoomIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-381e2f4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"381e2f4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-399ce8bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"399ce8bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-592245ef e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"592245ef\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6eb3a6de elementor-vertical-align-middle elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"6eb3a6de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h2 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">Our Legacy<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14255003 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"14255003\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>DIWA has come a long way, but our story is still being written.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c78b8b7 e-con-full animated-slow e-flex elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5c78b8b7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;zoomIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74abf5e1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"74abf5e1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13be9856 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"13be9856\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-301a6251 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"301a6251\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-132a1806 elementor-vertical-align-middle elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"132a1806\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><h2 class=\"elementor-image-box-title\">And Our Future<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7cc26323 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7cc26323\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We are expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and ensuring that every woman and girl with a disability in Africa has the tools and platform to lead.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DIWA\u2019s Story A Journey of Bold Leadership, Inclusion &amp; Transformation In the early 2000s, a small group of African women with disabilities realized that even within the disability movement, their voices were often sidelined. Gender inequality and disability discrimination were combining to create deep, persistent barriers\u2014and no one was addressing them head-on. In 2002, these [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1758","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"campaignId":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1758"}],"version-history":[{"count":166,"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4570,"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1758\/revisions\/4570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.shakesolutions.net\/diwa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}