Economic Empowerment

"My goal for the future is to always work with disabled people in the hope that one day they have the same opportunities that I have had in being able to earn my crust, live independently from my family and to motivate and encourage others from all over my country."

Carlos Montes, rehabilitation promoter and wheelchair user, El Salvador

Poverty is the cause and consequence of so many disabilities in low-income countries. Our initiatives empower disabled people to work themselves out of the vicious cycle of poverty.


Employment Placement. Disabled people have the right to a secure livihood.	A Zambian woman buys food for her family. This ricycle helps her to travel the long distance to market.	Vocational training. A disabled person not only requires mobility but needs the skills to work themselves out of poverty.

Anyone with a disability is automatically disadvantaged because disability makes poverty worse. It increases isolation and economic strain for the affected family as well as the individual. Statistics show that children with disabilities are more likely to die young, become malnourished or neglected. Given the right opportunity disabled people who are denied education are then unable to find employment. Disabled people can start to break the cycle of poverty that denies them their basic human rights. Motivation works with mainstream employers and local partner organisations to run initiatives that empower disabled people with the skills and opportunities to work themselves out of poverty.

Motivation is working in partnership with Marks & Spencer to implement their Marks & Start programme, which is helping disabled people to access mainstream employment in the garments industry. Click here for more information.