So let’s talk about inclusivity! I mean, you’re here, on the Legs4Africa website so you’re already interested in seeing increased accessibility for all people. Which means that you also realise that we live in a less-than-perfect world in which people with disabilities can lack representation.
On Saturday (16th November… I’m late to publish because I forgot to actually press the “publish” button. DOH!) Victoria Mall in Entebbe hosted fourth annual Hot Pink Fashion Show. The event is organised by The Malengo Foundation, a Ugandan disabled persons organisation working on implementing the global sustainable development goals within Uganda.
The foundation’s CEO Michelle said in her speech was that the Hot Pink Catwalk Show has never been about empowering people with differences. It’s about empowering everyone else to understand and appreciate that disabled does not mean unable.
It was refreshing to see a diverse version of beauty. There were wheelchairs, stumps, prostheses, albinism, deafness, visual impairment, vitiligo, little people, autism… Unique. Beautiful. Visible. Not just on the runway either. I could see diverse representation in the audience, working for Malengo Foundation, and for the event partners, one of the designers was deaf and the event kicked off by shining a light on the dedicated mothers of disabled children.
If you would like to learn more about the Malengo Foundation or the UN Sustainable Development goals then check out the Malengo Foundation website.