Continuing Our Work with Mobility International USA (MIUSA)

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Communications

CIEE has a long-standing relationship with Mobility International USA (MIUSA), an organization that works to empower people with disabilities around the world to achieve their human rights through international exchange and international development. In addition to frequent work with MIUSA on conference sessions and supporting students with disabilities abroad, in 2015, CIEE partnered with MIUSA on scholarships to help people with disabilities study abroad as part of our Generation Study Abroad Pledge.

In January, MIUSA reached out to see if CIEE might be able to help with getting visas for MIUSA’s 10th International Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) Exchange Program this summer. CIEE was the visa sponsor for attendees and Olga Adamovich and her team provided support and guidance during the visa application process. Thanks to their help, MIUSA was able to host 23 disabled women activists from 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East (see attached). These women are changing the world through their leadership and commitment to the full inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in all aspects of community life.

MIUSA shared some quotes from participants in the event, describing the impact of the conference, including

“To have a group of international women with disabilities strengthens my view of women with disabilities, united collectively. I have never had this experience. I am going to incorporate twin-track approach, infiltration, plus cross-disability in all of my work” - WILD 2022 delegate from Brazil

“I am a more powerful leader now. More proud to be a woman with a disability. I have more courage to dare to do something very big that I thought I was not capable of doing. I have so many ideas thanks to WILD.” – WILD 2022 delegate from Costa Rica [translated] 

By sharing their expertise, CIEE staff were able to help these women have a transformative experience and return home to their countries with an even greater commitment to address issues of critical importance to women and girls with disabilities around the world.