Speaking during the launch of the Inclusive Education Resource Centre at the University of Juba, Lucy Nyaga, International Director Programmes at Light for the World, emphasized that disability inclusion in education is a fundamental right, not a charitable gesture.
“Inclusive education is a right, not charity. This resource centre represents dignity, opportunity, and equal access for students with disabilities,” Nyaga said.
She highlighted that the initiative, implemented in partnership with Save the Children, demonstrates a practical commitment to turning policy into action for learners with disabilities in South Sudan.
The centre, part of the Modilla Resilience Programme, provides assistive devices, learning materials, guidance, and a supportive environment designed to empower students with disabilities to pursue their academic ambitions with confidence and excellence.
“Disability should never be a barrier to academic achievement, leadership, or living life in full,” Nyaga added.
She stressed that inclusion strengthens not only individual learners but also the wider university community and the nation.
“By investing in inclusive education today, we are building a stronger and more equitable South Sudan for tomorrow,” she said, outlining plans to establish additional resource centres across the country in 2026, including in Maridi, Rumbek, and Malakal.
Nyaga also called for sustainable institutional leadership in inclusive education.
“We hope this initiative will inspire the creation of a dedicated Department of Inclusive Education at the University of Juba to ensure long-term research, teacher training, and inclusion,” she said, urging the government and partners to continue investing in disability rights and equitable learning opportunities nationwide.
The launch reflects South Sudan’s commitment as a state party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, showing that inclusion is not just policy on paper, but action on the ground.
Nyaga concluded, “Let this moment be remembered not only as the opening of a building, but as the opening of opportunities, where every learner has the right, support, and opportunity to succeed.”
