MiniGrant: organizing street protests of persons with disabilities and their caregivers, supporting the protest movement through media activities and community meetings.

 

About the group

Currently, persons with disabilities (PwD) and their caregivers (CPwD) are functioning in a grey area of Polish society. Their needs and struggles that they have to face in everyday life go unnoticed or are denied by society. We fight for a dignified life of PwD and CPwD in Poland.

The carer’s allowance in 2022 amounted to PLN 2,119 and this amount became the slogan of the first protest of the PwD and CPwD groups, which took place on September 17, 2022 in Warsaw, in front of the Presidential Palace. The persons protested, demanding a change in the law on the situation of people with disabilities in Poland, including the amount and rules for granting the allowance. Subsequent protests resulted in the formation of the group and the development of common demands, including personal assistance that is guaranteed by law, with adequate remuneration and an employment contract.

The majority of persons caring for PwD are women. The improvement of the situation and rights of PwD and CPwD means an improvement in life for thousands of women who currently live affected by economic violence and a restriction of constitutional rights. We are a strong voice of persons who are invisible and marginalized in the Polish society.

 

About the action

The group said it would not stop fighting until its demands were met. Therefore, as part of the MiniGrant, it will continue its activities: it will organize further PwD and CPwD protests, and between street actions, it will support the protest movement with media appearances, social media management, and community meetings.

MiniGrant+

Following the completion of the MiniGrant activities the group received a renewal grant from FemFund for the purpose of continuing their work in 2024

MiniGrant amount:  PLN 5300
MiniGrant+ amount:  PLN 10 000

Photo: Piotr Kiembłowski