Action for Persons with Disability (APD), is a non-for-profit organization, established in Tanzania in Oct 2021. APD is also supporting the government of Tanzania and Global initiatives of promoting and protection rights for Persons with disabilities (PWD) to access and enjoy the benefits of tourism facilities. Every person has the right to access leisure and tourism services on an equal basis (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – UNCRPD, 2006). We are violating their rights, especially when access is not possible, and when persons with disabilities are excluded to participate.
Tourism, especially of accessing tourist sites, heritage sites and climbing Mountains do not differentiate people, why is it that we differentiate among them? Why people with disabilities cannot enjoy a life like those without disabilities? Why can’t PWD step into the outdoors and engage in the beauty of nature?
As such, APD in 2024 initiated a Tourism project called “Mount Kilimanjaro Adventure for All (MOKIA)”, to support Persons with disabilities to access their rights of Tourism, Inclusion, and Leisure.
In that same year, 2024, APD in collaboration with other partners, supported 40 Persons with various disabilities (Visual, Hearing, Albinism, Intellectual and Physical) together with their assistants to visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and 15 to climb the Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tanzania is a blessed country, with vast and attractive tourist sites (to be shown later). Many tourists from within and across the global are afforded to visit them for studying, leisure and enjoyment.
Yet, Tanzania has very much motivated and experienced Tour operators and guides, with reliable facilities and equipment which made both, the Ngorongoro Safari Tour and Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro possible, interesting and memorable. Many of them enjoyed and reached Kilimanjaro Uhuru Peak.
Tourists with disabilities showed so much determination and positivity towards achieving their goals. Yet, they proved and created positive images to the world community that they can be just as capable and successful as those without disabilities, especially when facing obstacles. Surely, the communities have to be educated and encouraged to support PWD to access tourism, inclusion, and leisure rights; as the most challenging issue was ignorance among the wider community, including the PWD themselves, their families and employers in some private companies and government institutions
