On World Cerebral Palsy Day, we join the global community in raising awareness of cerebral palsy and, above all, in looking beyond the diagnosis to see the child, the family and their everyday reality. At Enablement Foundation, we work with our partners to bring rehabilitation and practical support closer to children with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities and their families. The video we are sharing comes from the community-based programme of our strategic partner Katalemwa Cheshire Home in Uganda. We have deliberately chosen to show the reality as it is — including the difficult living conditions and the challenges families face when caring for a child with cerebral palsy with limited resources and support: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7uUkL0gqy8

We do not want to mask or window-dress this reality. At the same time, children should never be defined by their difficulties. Every child has abilities, interests, relationships and potential.

This is why we work with the F-Words for Child Development, shifting the focus towards what matters in a child’s everyday life:

Function – supporting everyday activities and independence.
Family – strengthening and supporting those closest to the child.
Fitness – encouraging movement and activity.
Friends – creating opportunities for relationships and inclusion.
Fun – making space for play and enjoyment.
Future – building opportunities for participation, learning and development.

Our message on World Cerebral Palsy Day is simple: see the child, not only the disability. See their abilities, their potential and their right to participate and belong.

Every Child Belongs.