NIMD El Salvador is running a Democracy School for young people living with disabilities, in coordination with the Fundación Red de Sobrevivientes y Personas con Discapacidad (Network of survivors and people with disabilities foundation), the Fundación de Estudios para la Aplicación del Derecho (Foundation of studies for legal implementation) and IM Swedish Development Partner.

The second yearly edition of the school was launched in August, with training taking place online due to COVID-19. Many of the participants also took part in the first edition of the school. As such, this year’s training sessions will provide an opportunity to build on and consolidate their knowledge and skills

The school for young people living with disabilities is just one of the Democracy School courses we run across our programmes, where both established and aspiring politicians come together and learn democratic values. By teaching future leaders skills such as how to speak, listen and debate with mutual respect, we help the next generation to put their political values into practice in line with needs of their country.

By focusing on young people living with disabilities, this school also aims to empower a group of people who may face barriers to political participation, both as young people and people living with disabilities. By providing a space where they can build a network of other young people from across the political spectrum, and the chance to pick up new knowledge and skills, we hope to help the participants to break down these barriers.

The course will run for six weeks, and will be divided into modules on working collectively to strengthen democracy; a framework for political action and communication; and tools for democracy and promoting the rights of people with disabilities.