Rwanda launches new national campaign to spotlight strengths of youth with disabilities

By Prince Boris Cyubahiro.

Kigali, December 5, 2025 — Rwanda has taken another decisive step toward strengthening disability inclusion with the launch of the Play the Full Deck campaign, unveiled today by the National Union of Disability Organisations of Rwanda (NUDOR).

The initiative is implemented in partnership with Light for the World, the Mastercard Foundation, and the We Can Work programme.

The campaign uses the metaphor of a deck of cards to illustrate the importance of inclusion: every card has a role, and success is possible only when the “full deck” is played.

In this symbolism, young people with disabilities form the Heart Suit — essential contributors whose strengths have often been overlooked due to societal misconceptions rather than lack of ability.

Despite progress in national inclusion efforts, many young Rwandans with disabilities still face barriers in education, employment, and public perception. Join the movement:

Play The Full Deck

Play the Full Deck seeks to redirect attention from disability to capability, urging employers to recognise the value of diverse skills and perspectives in the workplace.

For Izere Emmanuel, NUDOR’s Inclusive Employment Advisor, the campaign reflects his own lived experience.

Born with a visual impairment, he navigated an education system with limited accessible materials, yet consistently excelled academically. His transition into employment revealed deeper challenges.

“I once applied for a position and received positive feedback because of my academic performance,” he said. “When I disclosed my visual impairment, everything changed. The opportunity was withdrawn. What stood in the way was mindset, not competence.”

Izere later joined NUDOR, where he now supports young people with disabilities to build confidence and identify their strengths. In the campaign deck, his card reads Good Communicator — a skill he uses daily in advocacy and mentorship.

NUDOR’s Disability Inclusion Advisor, Jean Baptiste Murema, described the campaign as timely and necessary. He said persistent discrimination, inaccessible environments, and limited employment opportunities continue to affect many young people with disabilities.

“Through Play the Full Deck, we want society to rethink long-held assumptions,” Murema said. “Young people with disabilities are skilled, creative, and determined. Their contributions enrich every sector.”

Murema emphasised that inclusive employment is not charity but an investment in Rwanda’s development. He highlighted employers such as MTN Rwanda, Bank of Kigali, Starford, and Volcano, which have already offered jobs or internships to youth with disabilities.

He encouraged more organisations to adopt inclusive hiring practices and urged government to consider public-sector employment quotas, alongside incentives for private companies that hire persons with disabilities.

“Strengthening implementation of accessibility policies — particularly for women with disabilities — remains a key priority,” he added.

More than an awareness initiative, Play the Full Deck is designed as a national movement built on storytelling, youth leadership, community engagement, and positive representation.

Its central call — Raise Your Card — invites young people with disabilities to step forward with confidence and invites employers to look beyond outdated perceptions.

As the campaign begins its rollout across Rwanda following today’s launch, organisers hope it will spark a broader shift toward workplaces and communities where every person has an opportunity to participate, contribute, and thrive.

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