Ambassadors
We work with a committee of Ambassadors who have Down syndrome. They guide our work and give us feedback.
Why is it important?
People with Down syndrome are often not included in the organisations that represent them.
This means that organisations do not always know what the people they represent think or want.
At Down Syndrome International we want to get better at including people with Down syndrome at all levels of the organisation.
"I speak up on behalf of people with Down syndrome in my country to make sure other voices are being heard."
What are we doing?
We work with a committee made up of people with Down syndrome. They are called Ambassadors.
The Ambassadors represent the member organsiation in their country.
We hold monthly online meetings. The Ambassadors work on lots of projects with our staff team. They help us create information and resources and give feedback on work we have done.
"We do research by interviewing people from our country and we create resources, like webinars, booklets and videos, like how to include people in meetings."
"We listen and respect and support each other. We share lots of cool ideas and get new ideas to share in our country."
What are the aims of the project?
The Ambassador group helps us understand how to include people with Down syndrome better.
We now have Ambassadors working on our high-level strategic teams, including with our Board of Trustees. They take back what they learn to their member organsiations.
The group mentor and support each other in their self-advocacy skills.
This makes self-advocacy stronger around the world.
"My dream is for the world to become a place where the general population’s respect encourages and enables citizens to contribute to life, develop to their full potential, and feel like they have a purpose in life."
"The reason I am an Ambassador is because I like to change people's perspectives about people with Down syndrome and educate society."
Meet our Ambassadors.
Andrew Domahidy - Australia.
Andrew is on the Down Syndrome Advisory Network for Down Syndrome Australia. He also sits on the board for Down Syndrome Western Australia.
“I believe that I can do anything that I put my mind to, and I believe other people with Down syndrome can too.
I want everyone with Down syndrome to feel safe and know that they are valued and can do what they set their mind to.”
Fahim Hassan - Bangladesh.
Fahim is a self-advocate with Down Syndrome Society of Bangladesh.
“I enjoy exercise like yoga, cycling, jogging. Hopefully, we will see you in Bangladesh in the future.”
Janet Charchuk - Canada.
Janet is one of the founding members and past chair of Voices at the Table for Advocacy, with the Canadian Down Syndrome Society.
“With Special Olympics I won Gold for Canada in the World Games in 2017 in the sport of snowshoeing. I am also an athlete leader, spokesperson, mentor, and health messenger.
I enjoy sports, being involved in my community, being with my friends, cooking, yoga, and showing my abilities while speaking up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.”
Morgan Maze - Indonesia.
Morgan is a self-advocate with the Indonesia Down Syndrome Care Foundation.
“I am an activist in the disability movement in Indonesia.
I have participated in seminars in Indonesia and overseas, and have given a speech at the Geneva United Nations Office for the World Down Syndrome Day in 2019.”
Eileen Dunne - Ireland.
Eileen is a self-advocate with Down Syndrome Ireland.
“I am an advocate, and I love speaking in public.
I believe people with Down syndrome should be heard and they should be independent and part of society.”
Charlotte Muthoni Hirst - Kenya.
Muthoni is a self-advocate with Down Syndrome Society of Kenya.
“My vision is to ensure all individuals with Down syndrome are assured of their human rights and valued by a more inclusive society.
I love Edward “Eddie” Barbanell’s (American Comedian and Actor with Down syndrome) quote: “Having Down syndrome means nothing to me. I am special like everyone else. I do not let people judge me for having Down syndrome. The important thing is how I feel about myself. On the inside. I feel beautiful.””
Carlos Ramirez - Mexico.
Carlos is a self-advocate with Fundacion John Langdon Down.
He is an experimental artist at the Mexican School of Down Art of the John Langdon Down Foundation in Mexico City.
Andrew Oswin - New Zealand.
Andrew is an Ambassador and mentor with the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association.
“I enjoy being a self-advocate because I know how important it is and what it means to me to represent my country.”
Moyosore Ijale - Nigeria.
Moyosore is a self-advocate with Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria.
“People look down on me and bully persons with Down syndrome in my country.
I would like to use my music to advocate for the rights of persons with Down syndrome in my country.”
Stuart Campbell - Scotland.
Stuart is a self-advocate with Down’s Syndrome Scotland.
“I am a chatty, witty young man who has Down syndrome.
I did a presentation at the World Down Syndrome Congress in 2009 for the Scottish Youth Parliament.”
Shéri Brynard - South Africa.
Shéri is a self-advocate with Down Syndrome South Africa.
Shéri Brynard is the only qualified assistant teacher with Down syndrome in South Africa. She works as an assistant teacher at a school for Learners with Special Education Needs.
This experience has made her more aware of the challenges that many people with Down syndrome have to overcome.
Pearl Lüthy - Switzerland.
Pearl is a self-advocate with Insieme21.
“I like being a self-advocate because I like to speak up for people with Down syndrome.
I believe that we need to be in our local schools, working in good jobs and living where we want with who we want.”
Halis Güney - Turkey.
Halis is a self-advocate with Turkiye Down Sendromu Dernegi.
“I work as a restaurant server at Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus.”
Chaica Al Qassimi - United Arab Emirates.
Chaicca is a self-advocate with Emirates Down Syndrome Association.
“I have been involved in many projects around inclusion of people with disabilities.
I have also done many talks about inclusion in schools and within families.
My aim is to keep spreading inclusion in any way possible and to represent what’s possible for people with Down syndrome.”
Kate Powell - United Kingdom.
Kate works at the Down’s Syndrome Association as the editor of ‘Down To Earth’ magazine.
“I have attended conferences at the UN in New York & Geneva speaking about WorkFit, a program to support people in employment.
My hobbies are dance, drama, and swimming. As a swimmer, I represented Greater London in many Special Olympics events.”
Charlotte Woodward - United States.
Charlotte works at the National Down Syndrome Society as the Education Program Associate.
“I love my career at NDSS. It is a very stimulating and fulfilling experience, and I am given the opportunity to show responsibility and to take initiative.
As the Education Program Associate, not only do I give presentations and speak at various conferences and events, I am also involved in education policy, I develop resources, and I do many other important advocacy activities.”