Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Hosts Community-Based Rehabilitation Training Graduation
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Gondar hosted a graduation ceremony for the Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) certificate program on February 13, 2025. The ceremony was attended by the university’s president, Dr. Asrat Atsedeweyn, Co-Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Dr. Molalign Belay, as well as college deans, Program managers, graduates, and invited guests.
Dr. Molalign Belay, Co-Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, began his welcome speech by attributing the success of the Program to the collaborative efforts of the Mastercard Foundation, the University of Gondar, and Queen’s University, and the inclusive leadership of the university’s management. Dr. Molalign shared the Program’s future plans, which include the expansion of the CBR certificate training, the introduction of e-Learning and the establishment of a Career Development Center. He congratulated the graduates for their hard work, noting that the CBR certificate training program is accredited by the University Senate and important for graduates in their future career.
In his keynote address, Dr. Asrat Atsedeweyn, President of the University of Gondar and overseer of the Program, emphasized the importance of inclusive education, pointing out that the Program has been working on disability inclusion for the past eight years. He also highlighted the Program’s role in building university faculty capacity and raising awareness about disability inclusion. Dr. Asrat expressed the university’s commitment to maintaining its status as a center of excellence in disability-inclusive education in the country and mentioned plans to extend the CBR training to both non-Scholars and the broader community.
Dr. Meseret Kassie, Part B Manager of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, highlighted the significance of CBR training as one of the key components of the Program, and she shared that a total of 133 trainees had completed the training. She also described the training as essential in creating transformative leaders and advocates for disability inclusion. Dr. Meseret also noted that an ongoing impact assessment has shown positive results, with graduates acquiring valuable skills for employment.
Among the graduates, Mastercard Foundation Scholar Abrak Amare shared how the training had deepened his understanding of disability, the barriers to inclusion, and the relevant legal frameworks. He recommended that the training be made accessible to a wider audience beyond Mastercard Foundation Scholars. Rosa Abraham, a Mastercard Foundation Alumni and CBR certificate holder, also reflected on how the training had provided her with valuable hands-on experience in leadership and teamwork.
Following the speeches, Dr. Asrat and Dr. Molalign presented certificates to the graduates.
