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Enhancing PFT Kitchen Access for Seniors and People with Disabilities

The Enhancing PFT Kitchen Access for Seniors and People with Disabilities project was developed to improve accessibility, safety, and inclusion within the kitchen facilities at Pilgrim Feast Tabernacle (PFT) located in York, Ontario, Canada. Led by Society for Equal Health and Rights (SEQHER), the initiative aims to remove physical barriers and create a more welcoming and functional environment for approximately 100 seniors, persons with disabilities, newcomers, and underserved community members who regularly access the facility for meals, programs, and social support.

The project includes targeted renovations designed to improve usability and accessibility within the kitchen space. Planned upgrades include the installation of accessible fixtures and fittings, improved circulation areas to accommodate mobility devices, enhanced safety features, and modifications aligned with accessibility standards and best practices. These improvements are intended to support safer and more independent participation in food preparation, community activities, and support programs for individuals with mobility challenges and other accessibility needs.

Beyond the physical upgrades, the initiative contributes to broader goals of dignity, independence, inclusion, and community wellbeing. By creating a more accessible environment, the project is helping to increase participation in community services while reducing barriers faced by vulnerable populations. The project is currently in the implementation phase, with consultations, planning, and contractor engagement completed and renovation activities actively underway. SEQHER acknowledges the support of its funding partners whose commitment to accessibility and inclusion is helping create a safer and more equitable community space for all.

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Voices Unbound Project

The Voices Unbound Project was established to address the severe health, protection, and human rights challenges faced by LGBTQI+ individuals in Borno State, Nigeria. Operating within a context shaped by legal persecution, social stigma, insurgency, and widespread discrimination, the project adopts a comprehensive community-led model that integrates healthcare access, strategic advocacy, psychosocial support, and rights awareness. Through funding support from the Embassy of Ireland under Irish Aid’s ICMPS 2025 program, Society for Equal Health and Rights (SEQHER) implemented interventions across Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Jere, Biu, and Bama LGAs to strengthen healthcare access pathways for vulnerable LGBTQI+ populations.

A major achievement of the project has been the establishment of formal collaborations with the Borno State Ministry of Health, State AIDS and STI Control Programme (SASCP), primary healthcare centres, and major treatment facilities. These partnerships enabled the development of safer referral systems for HIV testing, treatment initiation, gender-based violence support, and psychosocial care. Within the reporting period, the project screened 1,269 individuals for HIV, identified 102 reactive cases, conducted 683 GBV screenings, and established four Positive Support Groups that provide peer-led psychosocial support, treatment adherence counselling, and economic resilience initiatives. Eight trained Peer Navigators now serve as frontline community health agents, facilitating outreach, accompaniment, case tracking, and confidential support services for beneficiaries across the four LGAs.

The project also focused on public engagement and systems strengthening through World AIDS Day campaigns, online legal and health symposiums, institutional advocacy visits, and intensive community training programs. Despite operating in a hostile environment marked by anti-LGBTQI+ sentiment, security threats, and community backlash, the project successfully built trust among marginalized populations while strengthening relationships with health institutions and local stakeholders. Through strategic adaptation, trauma-informed care, and community-driven interventions, Voices Unbound continues to restore dignity, improve healthcare access, and create safer support systems for LGBTQI+ individuals living in Borno State.

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Youth Accessibility Leadership Initiative (EAF 2025)

Through this initiative, youth leaders are empowered to collaborate with community organizations, contribute to accessibility-focused projects, and support inclusive program development aligned with national accessibility priorities.

At SEQHER, Youth Accessibility Leaders play an active role in:

  • Supporting accessibility-focused project planning and implementation
  • Promoting inclusion and awareness within the community
  • Engaging diverse participants in accessible programming
  • Contributing to funding applications and project development processes

Current Activities:

SEQHER currently has five (5) Youth Accessibility Ambassadors delivering weekly community programs focused on accessibility, inclusion, and community engagement. These sessions provide ongoing support and create safe, inclusive spaces for participants, particularly seniors and persons with disabilities.

Impact:

This initiative is strengthening youth leadership, increasing community awareness of accessibility issues, and supporting the development of inclusive programs that respond to the needs of underserved populations.