Dream Big

People with disabilities, the world’s largest minority, are routinely excluded: denied access to education, healthcare, livelihoods.

Together with our partners we’ll spark an Inclusion Revolution, harnessing the immense potential of activists and advisors with disabilities. No longer will others speak and decide for people with disabilities.

“BasicNeeds came to my town and told people the truth about mental illness. They started a group for people like me and for my family as well. We are respected and cared for. We feel included.” Joseph, BasicNeeds participant.

Mental health is a basic need, as much as food and shelter. Globally, 12 billion annual workdays are lost to depression and anxiety, costing US$1 trillion. In lower income countries over 100 million people urgently need mental health support. Our BasicNeeds Model confronts this global mental health crisis.

“I didn’t usually stay around people because some were fond of looking at me and some were scared of me. Truthfully, I really enjoyed the project because they value me and they have renewed my life.” Anas, project participant, Nigeria.

Our ground-breaking research has proven the mind-skin link; that mental health care is an essential component of NTD (Neglected Tropical Diseases) treatment.  We build community and peer support for persons with NTDs and integrate mental health services into Primary Health Care to address this critical need.

“[Arclight is a] game-changer in the way we both train and equip community level health care workers as we ramp up and establish primary eye care in all regions of sub-Saharan Africa”. Ophthalmologist Dr Wicliff Mashaka, Zimbabwe.

We will scale up our use of the Arclight, a cost-effective, easy to use, solar powered ophthalmoscope, to train more nurses and midwives in the countries where we work. They will conduct essential eye health screening for children – especially newborn infants – at local health centres or in communities, to save sight and lives in lower income countries around the world.