Save the Children’s ‘Kasali’ wins international award

MANILA, Philippines — Save the Children Philippines has won a prestigious international award for its “Kabataang Aralin sa Lahat Ibahagi (Kasali)” education program that gives children with disabilities or CWDs access to quality inclusive and protective education that ensures equal learning opportunities for the most disadvantaged girls and boys.

The local unit of the international child welfare organization was given the prestigious Zero Project Award by the Vienna-based Essl Foundation in recognition of its project as the most innovative and effective solution to the problems of persons with disabilities throughout the world.

Save the Children’s Kasali particularly won the Innovative Practice 2020 on Inclusive Education award because of its multifaceted approach to help children with disabilities through an integrated multi-sectoral approach that meaningfully engages the home, schools, government and communities to work together and address the needs of children with disabilities. 

The project was nominated by Carmen Reyes-Zubiaga, former executive director of the National Council on Disability Affairs.

The Zero Project award cited the Kasali project for “providing solution, innovation and impact to the needs of children with disabilities” by strengthening the capacity of various societal actors such as teachers, parents, school heads, other education personnel, allied health professionals and peers, and local government bodies to support inclusive education.

Save the Children Philippines chief executive officer Alberto Muyot welcomed the Zero Project award and its contribution to the advocacy to promote the rights of children with disabilities.