The Italian NGO EducAid has launched the Yo Puedo campaign, a national awareness movement advocating for the rights and empowerment of people with disabilities in El Salvador.
The campaign aims to promote an inclusive society where every individual is recognized as a person with rights and opportunities. It includes a range of activities designed to foster an environment that supports the full participation of people with disabilities in the social, economic, and cultural life of El Salvador.
The initiative is part of the three-year PODER project, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) with a budget of €1.7 million. It is implemented by EducAid in collaboration with Fundación Red de Sobrevivientes, Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas, PuntoSud, and the Italian Network on Disability and Development. For the past two years, PODER has been promoting labor, educational, cultural, and social inclusion for people with disabilities in four districts across the departments of San Salvador and La Libertad: Santiago Texacuango, Santo Tomás, Colón, and Zaragoza.
Giulia Trobbiani, Country Representative of EducAid, stated:
“The Yo Puedo campaign is the megaphone of the PODER project, which is breaking down the tangible and intangible barriers people with disabilities face every day.”
Roberto Reyes Meléndez, part of the campaign’s advisory team, unveiled the Disability Pride Flag, a symbol of dignity and strength for all individuals with disabilities. Each color on the flag represents the diverse experiences of living with a disability.
Paolo Gallizioli, Director of the AICS Office in San Salvador, also participated in the event, emphasizing:
“For Italian Cooperation, supporting people with disabilities is a critical commitment, as this is a population living in conditions of severe vulnerability. This is why we contribute to creating inclusive spaces where everyone can study, work, and live without discrimination.”
Idalia Martínez, President of the Association of People with Disabilities in Santiago Texacuangos, shared her experience with the PODER project:
“We are discovering our abilities, the diversity within our community, and the importance of making people with disabilities visible.”
For more information or to participate in the campaign, email info@yopuedoelsalvador.org.
