Meet the women with disabilities leading the charge for inclusion and progress

As part of its commitment to empower the PWD community, GCash, the nation’s leading finance super app, has forged a partnership with WOW LEAP Inc. (Women with Disabilities Leap to Social and Economic Progress), a non-profit organization dedicated to championing the inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities. 

This collaboration is just one of many initiatives GCash is pursuing to advance disability awareness, financial inclusion, and progress, following the release of the latest GCash Stories film featuring the Philippines’ first Paralympic medalist, Adeline “Adz” Dumapong.

Founded in 2001 by women with disabilities, WOW LEAP Inc. has been at the forefront of driving inclusive policies and initiatives in various communities around the Philippines. Led by its president, Carmen Reyes Zubiaga, the organization aims to create economic opportunities to foster social, cultural, and political participation for women with disabilities. 

“We want to be a catalyst for more stories of economic progress for people with impaired mobility,” said Zubiaga. 

Recognized by the National Council on Disability Affairs and supported by international partners like the Global Fund for Women and UNFPA, WOW LEAP Inc. has championed gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive policies throughout the last 2 decades. As an accredited partner of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the organization also runs community-based employment programs for persons with disabilities and their families, helping them secure livelihoods and economic independence.

A Call for True Inclusivity

In the GCash Stories film inspired by her journey in para sports, Adz Dumapong is shown going from para-sports champion to an advocate for true inclusion by raising funds with GCash to mount a community powerlifting competition for grassroot athletes with disabilities so they can get more opportunities to compete and succeed.

According to Adz, there are many ways people can support true inclusion. One of which is by engaging with persons with disabilities within the local community to understand their unique stories and challenges; supporting businesses that advocate for inclusive workplaces to ensure persons with disabilities can thrive; and finally, championing transportation initiatives that advocate for accessible public transportation for persons with limited mobility.

For her part, Adz is making sure she continues to give back to the next generation of para-athletes. This year, WOW LEAP Inc. is launching its Community Grassroots Sports Program which will organize activities for PWD communities and open doors for them to discover and thrive in para-sports.

GCash’s Commitment to the PWD Community

With “Finance for All” as its guiding vision, GCash reaffirms its commitment to persons with disabilities through its partnership with WOW LEAP Inc. 

Aside from supporting its various capacity building programs throughout the country, GCash will also be providing financial literacy modules to the wide network of WOW LEAP, empowering more persons with disabilities with the knowledge and skills to achieve financial progress.

GCash users can also support WOW LEAP Inc. and its initiatives by donating directly to the advocacy via a dedicated QR code. Proceeds will fund various programs to support persons with disabilities across the country.

With GCash, every transaction can be a step towards empowering the community of persons with disabilities. Together, we can support every Filipino para-athlete and work towards a more inclusive society. For more information on how GCash supports the PWD community, visit GCash’s official Facebook and Instagram page.

This article is brought to you by GCash.