“When aid is cut, it is our independence and well-being that bear the consequences”
In Colombia, people with disabilities have been hit hardest by the decline in international aid. Here is the story of a man who explains the negative impact this has had on his life.
Edwin David Julio Soto worked as an awareness-raising officer in his community in Cáceres, Colombia | © HI
Support to ensure equal opportunities
Edwin David Julio Soto is 29 years old and lives in Cáceres, a town in the department of Antioquia in north-western Colombia. Edwin has a physical disability and lives with his mother and sisters. Until recently, people with disabilities in his community received support from organisations and local authorities: training, awareness-raising sessions, provision of mobility aids (canes, wheelchairs), support with entering the labour market, and so on. Edwin had become a community awareness officer thanks to training courses organised by FUNDISCA, a Colombian foundation for people with disabilities, and HI, on psychological first aid, support for caregivers and managing emotions.
“Thanks to this support, I was able to carry out my activities more independently; I had more professional opportunities and felt calmer, more confident and full of hope. We were on an equal footing; everyone had the same opportunities.”
“I worked with the local authorities on a project aimed at young people: I ran prevention programmes against suicide and drugs, work that made me very happy. I also loved providing peer support, helping people who found in me a space where they could talk, confide in me, release their emotions and feel a sense of relief,” explains Edwin David Julio Soto.
The gradual reduction in aid
For Edwin and his community, things began to change little by little. After submitting requests for assistance, some people were told that there were no financial resources available. “That’s when we realised that opportunities were becoming scarcer. People with disabilities are the hardest hit, because without this assistance and institutional support to help us meet our needs, our financial situation is difficult.”
“The hardest part is finding a job, as there are few opportunities for people with disabilities in the region. It is more difficult to access training or receive help in finding employment, which has a negative impact on the income, well-being and independence of many people.”
Decline in independence and quality of life
With the reduction of aid, the quality of life of community members has rapidly declined. The situation is particularly difficult for people with disabilities, who are seeing their income plummet and are no longer receiving the support needed to access healthcare, education or employment.
“I know several people with disabilities living in rural areas who have asked for help to obtain wheelchairs or crutches. Due to a lack of resources, they find themselves stuck at home, unable to access healthcare or find work.”
The situation facing caregivers
Edwin is surrounded by a loving and close-knit family who support one another and are determined to move forward. But in his view, many people with disabilities are now being left behind; with no one to advise or support them, they often have to rely on their loved ones.
Caregivers are sometimes forced to give up their jobs to devote a large part of their time to helping others.
“Caregivers also deserve our full support. The community has rallied to help families in difficulty, but that is not enough: we still fervently hope that support from institutions and organisations will resume. We deserve equality and dignified living conditions.”
