Llangynidr’s Paul Lindoewood will be using two powered wheelchairs and his determination to help disabled people in Africa to drive him on as he tackles this year’s Cardiff Half Marathon.

Paul, who is the Coordinator of Disability in Wales and Africa (DWA), is kick-starting a new fund aimed at supporting disabled people’s organisations in Africa, via Welsh partners. These include Welsh partners Newport-based ResponsABLE assistance and Brecon Molo, who both work in Kenya, and Health Help International, also from Newport, who work in Zambia, and Machynlleth-based Hazina, who work in Tanzania.

Between 1996 and 2005 Paul worked in Kenya with the Methodist Church as a disability community worker. After returning to the UK and moving to Wales, Paul set up Disability in Wales and Africa in 2010. This was with the aim of raising the profile of the needs of disabled people and their families within the Wales Africa Sector - a growing group of more than 140 Welsh organisations who have a focus on development and connections with African partners.

The work of Wales Africa has increasingly taken disability to its heart and many partners are looking for ways of moving this forward. DWA believes that the next challenge is to encourage their development programmes to engage with Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs). Paul said: “The last 40 years have shown that, in both Wales and Africa, nothing substantial will change in the lives of disabled people, unless their disability movements are empowered to become a driving force.”

DWA wants to develop a fund, under the slogan ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’, with the aim of encouraging Welsh development organisations to engage with African DPOs, identifying them as partners within the development process.

“There is a wealth of experience, knowledge and skills within the disabled communities of both Wales and Africa” Paul said. “Very often we end up doing things ‘for’ rather than ‘with’ disabled people. This is an issue in both Wales and Africa and one of the aspirations of DWA is global solidarity between disabled people”.

If you want to find out more about DWA contact Paul on [email protected], or telephone 01874 730900, mobile 07983 593199. If you would like to support this initiative please go to Paul’s crowdfunding page.