INCLUSION POLICY
VEReF is dedicated to dismantling the barriers to inclusion for individuals and communities involved in our initiatives, both within Ghana and in our projects across other West African nations.
VEReF collaborates closely with local partners in these countries to foster the betterment of people’s lives, especially targeting those in extreme poverty and regions recovering from conflict. As an organisation, we staunchly oppose all forms of ethnocentrism.
VEReF champions the fundamental rights of all individuals and is committed to ensuring the complete inclusion of marginalised groups in our efforts. Marginalised individuals are those who face exclusion and discrimination stemming from unequal power dynamics in economic, political, cultural, and social spheres.
We view inclusion as a dynamic process of identifying, understanding, and eliminating the barriers that prevent people, groups, and communities from fully participating in our activities on an equal footing with others.
VEReF maintains a strict use of inclusive and decolonized language in all our communications, both written and spoken. We prioritize person-first language that respects the agency and context of the individuals we engage with, helping to dismantle prevailing power structures.
VEReF values diversity and strives to create environments where exclusion, discrimination, and stigma are actively confronted and remedied.
We recognize that discrimination and privilege can vary greatly based on factors such as gender, race, economic status, and education level. Discrimination may be compounded for individuals facing multiple intersecting challenges.
Examples of Issues and Responses:
- Women’s under-representation in district assemblies and on local committees
- Response: Conduct civic education and women’s rights training for community and committee members.
- Volunteers from diverse professional and educational backgrounds
- Response: Align volunteer skills with suitable tasks and provide additional guidance as necessary.
- Barriers to electoral participation for minority and indigenous groups
- Response: Disseminate voter information in accessible languages and literacy levels.
- Educational exclusion of girls and young people with disabilities
- Response: Offer professional development for teachers on inclusivity and curriculum accessibility.
- Exclusion of religious minorities from community initiatives
- Response: Design projects that are inclusive of all faiths and those without religious affiliation.
At VEReF, we endeavor to foster environments where stigmatizsation and discrimination are challenged, and diversity is seen as a conduit for enriching experiences.
Diversity within VEReF is integral at all levels—office, partnership, and community—depending on the interactions involved.
Inclusivity Initiatives by VEReF:
- Identify varied challenges and mobilize marginalised community members to engage in developmental opportunities.
- Ensure marginalised individuals have effective access to educational and training opportunities and are represented in decision-making processes.
- Address the needs of marginalised groups in policy development and strategic planning.
- Support marginalised individuals in understanding and asserting their human rights.
- Proactively identify and mitigate barriers to inclusion, providing necessary support for equitable participation.
- Value diversity and respect the contributions of all individuals, actively opposing stigma, discrimination, and exclusion.
- Commit to the use of inclusive and decolonized language in all forms of communication.
Literacy for All
Literacy is pivotal for achieving fundamental human rights and is central to VEReF’s mission. It extends beyond basic reading and writing skills; literacy is a transformative tool that enhances decision-making capabilities and boosts community participation.
Low literacy levels are often linked to reduced engagement in educational, employment, and communal activities. Hence, literacy is vital for promoting social inclusion.
VEReF works alongside local partners to enhance literacy and foster inclusion, urging all partners to:
- Support community members with low literacy skills.
- Challenge the stigmatization and discrimination faced by those with minimal or no literacy abilities.
- Tailor written materials to the literacy levels of the audience.
- Incorporate positive depictions of marginalised individuals in educational resources like training manuals and posters.
- Guarantee equitable access to information for everyone, using literacy as a vehicle for social transformation and the promotion of equal opportunities.