Sadia was one of the nine finalists selected to share their journeys during the Story Circle at RHPW 2025, co-hosted by CWSA and words rhythms images as Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN) hubs. While she was unable to travel to Bangkok due to visa constraints, her story was still presented and resonated deeply with colleagues and practitioners in the room. She got a standing ovation, and there was hardly anyone in the room of 400+ people who was not moved by her story.

Through her lived experience as an educator, caregiver, and long-time advocate for children with disabilities, Sadia’s story offered an important reminder: inclusive education is not a technical add-on, but a long-term commitment shaped by care, relationships, and persistence. Her journey reflects realities that are often absent from programme discussions: the daily challenges families face, the gaps in systems, and the quiet leadership of those working closest to communities.
At CWSA, hosting Sadia’s story was an opportunity to pause and reflect on how we approach inclusion in our work. It encouraged us to look beyond surface-level measures and to engage more meaningfully with persons with disabilities and those who have been working alongside them for years, often outside formal humanitarian structures.
Sadia’s story reminded us that inclusion becomes meaningful when it is grounded in lived experience, informed by listening, and sustained beyond project timelines. Even in her absence at RHPW, her voice helped shape a deeper conversation, one that we hope continues across our collective work.

“We remain grateful to Sadia for trusting us with her story and for the work she continues to lead on inclusive education”, Community World Service Asia.

You can access the HSC Digital booklet here: https://lnkd.in/dhpcPQZu