Anne was a healthy and energetic two-year-old when polio struck, confining her to a wheelchair. By the time Anne turned six, she and her family had moved from the Mihuu community in Kenya, where she was born, to Nairobi, the capital. This was when she learnt she was different and would be ostracised for just being that way.
She recalls how little children were curious about her - the lively little girl with leg braces and crutches - but many parents feared her, saying she might be cursed and contagious. Based on such social stigmas, British Paralympian, author, and inclusion advocate Anne Wafula Strike MBE spent a lonely and forlorn childhood, robbed of any friends and playmates in a neighbourhood filled with children her age. “I have never felt so rejected and unwanted,” says Anne.
But she found solace and companionship in music, singing, and sports. Then, wheelchair racing thrust her onto the world stage. She became the first athlete from sub-Saharan Africa to compete in wheelchair racing at the World Championships and Paralympic World Cups. Today, Anne is a decorated Paralympian, but she recognises that inclusion and diversity still have a long way to go.
"“The web of exclusion is very complex. First, I was excluded because I had a disability; then, I found myself on the outside because I was female and black. If nothing is done, these inequalities will impede progress towards achieving inclusive institutions and societies by 2030,”
says Anne, referring to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The marginalisation which Anne describes may resonate with about 650 million people living with disabilities around the world, the majority of whom reside in low and middle-income countries in the Commonwealth. The discrimination they endure inspired Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, to place inclusive human rights at the heart of the Secretariat’s work, recognising them as central to peace, security and prosperity.
Earlier this year, on the side lines of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Secretary-General said:
"“Nobody should be excluded. Not because of colour, gender, disability or ethnicity. Fair and equal access and treatment, with participation and rights protected, should be a minimum standard for everyone.”
At the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Rwanda, Heads of Government encouraged increased efforts to reinforce respect for human rights and recommitted to sharing good human rights practices across the Commonwealth. One response has been leveraging the power of sport and engaging in diplomacy to raise concerns directly with member countries through influential individuals.
Anne is a key partner in this regard and has worked extensively with the Commonwealth as an advocate for human rights and inclusion since she was named Commonwealth Champion for Equality in Sport in 2020. She spoke about ending discrimination in sports and removing barriers to participation in sports at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. At the 2024 Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (11CSMM), Anne encouraged member governments to provide opportunities for young people with disabilities to meet their aspirations. There, ministers committed to levelling the playing field by delivering an inspirational and impactful 2026 Commonwealth Games built on equality, inclusion and fairness.
“I remember my mother would assign household chores to us, particularly around preparing family meals. My sister would draw water, I would sit and peel potatoes, and others would do their part. It took me a long time to realise that Mum was intentional about including me by giving me tasks that played to my strengths, not my weaknesses. So, working with the Commonwealth, I use the platform to encourage leaders to be intentional about creating the opportunities that promote inclusivity,” said Anne.
Anne founded The Olympia-Wafula Foundation, a charitable organisation that provides healthy living solutions for the vulnerable and people with disabilities. The foundation works with many Commonwealth countries, including Malawi, and Kenya, where people with disabilities have received free wheelchairs and education scholarships. Anne continues to speak out against prejudice through her inspirational memoir – In My Dreams, I Dance’, which tells the story of perseverance and pushing for change against all odds.
Human rights remain a priority at the upcoming CHOGM 2024 in Samoa. Here, leaders will discuss the pivotal role of sport, and Anne’s story will serve as a beacon to inspire them to believe that even small steps can quickly snowball into larger movements for building a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.
Media contact
-
Ijeoma Onyeator Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
