This year, as communities reflect on how young people shape the future of digital access and equity, two activists under the Mastercard Foundation’s We Can Work initiative stand out as powerful examples of transformation.

Launched in 2023, We Can Work forms part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy. It aims to enable young men and women with disabilities across seven African countries including Ghana to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. The initiative has equipped  the youth with skills, leadership training, and advocacy tools, while driving systemic change by pairing mainstream institutions with Disability Inclusion Facilitators (DIFs) to reshape policies and practices.

Speaking to BusinessGhana on IYD 2025, Ms. Nora Darwoo, an activist and participant of the We Can Work initiative, shared her insights on Shaping Mindsets Through Digital Inclusion. Her mission was simple but powerful: to change how society viewed persons with disabilities, from obstacles to contributors.

“I want to change mindsets and show that people with disability can make an impact,” she said.

With a background in IT and digital finance, Nora channels her skills into inclusive facilitation. She believes that inclusion means equal access, whether at work, in social spaces, or on mobile platforms.

“Leadership is for everyone. As a young person, leadership doesn’t have limits,” she noted.

Nora credited the Mastercard Foundation programme for giving her training that built her confidence and amplified her voice and the voices of others. Her call to her peers was clear:

“All young persons with disabilities should take advantage of the We Can Work programme. It teaches you how to advocate, gives you empowerment, and builds your capacity.”

Another beneficiary, Ms. Sarah Kekeli Akunor, emphasized that “Nothing for Us Without Us.”

Visually impaired and unafraid to speak her truth, Sarah drew on personal experiences to underscore a foundational principle of advocacy. Her activism began on her university campus and extended to national platforms. As a trained disability inclusion facilitator through the Mastercard Foundation, she has influenced university leadership, convincing a candidate for departmental presidency to include a person with a disability on every committee.

Sarah also engaged institutions on improving both digital and physical accessibility, from inclusive online applications to accessible lecture environments.

One particularly impactful moment came during her internship at the University of Ghana’s Assistive Lab, where she supported a student with both visual and mobility disabilities to adopt speech-to-text and transcription tools, enabling him to participate fully in academic life.

However, she also challenged systemic shortcomings, highlighting inaccessible reading materials, lecture halls, and communication channels that left students dependent on external companies to implement policies institutions had only written on paper.

What united Nora and Sarah on IYD 2025 was more than shared experience, they are activists driving change. From shifting public perception to transforming institutional policy, both work to build an inclusive Ghana, one voice and one platform at a time.

Profile: Sarah Kekeli Akunor – Disability Inclusion

Sarah Kekeli Akunor is a disability inclusion advocate and facilitator with over five years of experience. She is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s We Can Work initiative, served as Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations, and Vice President of the Campus Association of Students with Special Needs. Sarah also volunteered with programmes such as the Ghana Blind Union’s inclusion training.

Profile: Nora Darwoo – Disability Inclusion

Nora Darwoo is a passionate advocate for disability inclusion with a background in IT, digital finance, and administration. She trained with IPMC University, ALX, and the Digital Frontiers Institute, earning certifications in digital skills and inclusive facilitation. A committed changemaker, Nora empowers persons with disabilities through advocacy, awareness, and training, aligning with the Mastercard Foundation’s vision of inclusive development.