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October 26, 2005
Further report（The situation of the earthquake on October 8th） -Shafiq ur Rehman
Dear Friends,
How are you? Today we received tents and cloths from Japanese friends. We
will send them to the proper places.
I was sleeping the moment that dream were shattered. As the eye opened the
home was swinging. Everything was ready to more from its center. The
ceiling fan started working without electricity. The voice of earthquake was
like the helicopter flying.
It was a dooms-day. I crossed my threshed. Everybody was crying in
sorrowful manner. I started calling to my friends at Milestone Society for
the Special Persons. The roof of Asim’ house completely demolished and
Akmal’s mobile was not connecting, but thanks to God that Ashar, Hamid
(Atif) and other friends were safe.
The news on T.V was that the earthquake had high intensity. But the
destruction was shell not published, the news in this connection were
troubling to all of us. Thousand of people died. The destruction in
Islamabad was visible to the world. I called an emergency meeting of
Milestone Society for the Special Persons. The every member of Milestone
was ready to sacrifice even his life for earthquake victims.
We were penniless. But where is will there is way. We went door to door,
asked for blankets and eatables from people. Till evening we had a truck
full of blankets, warm clothes and food. One of our sister organization
contacted us from a village named Sesar where is located near Bagh Azad
Kashmir District. We started our journey at the night towards Kashmir. We
placed our wheelchairs on the truck and sat on the back. Milestone is known
as a revolutionary organization that is always ahead in welfare works. As
we reached Sheela Butt, the destruction was the order of the day. A dog in
a demolished house was tearing a child’s corporeality. At one side there
was a destroyed village and on the other side there was raining like
thunderstorm. We were thinking that we may not have been able to go back
home in such a dangerous situation but God had written more life for us. So
we started our mission in rain. We distributed food and blankets among the
needed people. But we had no tents to offer. People were dejected but they
were astonished to find that disabled people came to help. We were
encouraging them with sitting in wheelchair, there were disabled people
under those broken houses. People came out running when the earthquake
occurred, but our disabled friends were buried alive. No one could help
them out and neither they could help themselves. Perhaps they did not want
to come out, they did not want to waste this precious moment to die. They
might have thought that it was better to die for them than to be alive with
having hard time repeatedly. An old woman said that her son is also buried
under this demolished house and he had no such cart (Wheelchair) like you.
I thought perhaps soul does not need wheelchair, but life demands much that
people I was familiar with in Muzaffarabad, Balakot and Bagh all were
martyred. Now thousands of people have become disabled. Some lost their
hands and some lost their legs and many of our friends have got spinal cord
injury. But we do not have to leave these people alone; we have to make
them live happily even if they have disabilities. We must tell them that
being disabled is not some thing unnatural, that disabled persons are not
aliens in society, and that knowing our rights is our basic right. With so
many sentiments and pathetic moments, we came back Lahore. Everybody was
silent on the way. Everybody was thinking to come back again to help our
needy brothers.
The next day we planed to go the destroyed area again. Now our target areas
were Pattan Kalan and Pattan Khurd we have heard that no one had reached
there. In this trip we had 500 blankets, medicines for 3500 people, 800
milk packs and numberless rusks packets. First of all we reached Abbottabad
and shifted these things to trucks. We started our journey towards Pattan
Kalan and reached Pattan Khurd from Thundyani. The destroyed city of
Muzaffarabad was quite visible. The smell of dead bodies was in the air.
There were destroyed houses everywhere. There were children, old people and
young ones on roadsides waiting for help. But no one knows who should be
helped first. We decided to distribute things among children and women
because the young can help themselves. A woman denied accepting help, she
was carrying a dead child on her lap and said that she will eat if her child
is fed first. The homes turned into graves. The people are homeless and
dejected. The army has given speed to their relief works. We had no
courage to see these homeless affected people and have determined that we
will fetch some life for these people. Silently, covered in prayers ・・・
folded in dreams. We are now making a very solid action plan for the
counseling of newly disabled persons. Our real responsibility is to have
empowering program for the new disabled persons.
The second thing is that we have to use our skills to educate the government
to make barrier free constructions in re build process.
I will continue reporting on the behalf of my great team.
Shafiq
Posted by jicafriends at 12:02 PM | Comments (0)
TV Spot -Carlos kaiser
Dear Friends,
I was invited to be part of a group that will be on a TV spot promoting PwD
participation in presidential and diet election.
We encourage PwD to use the right to choose authorities.
The best thing is that TV director is a person with disabilities and the
people who will be on the Tv spot are people with disabilities too.
Carlos
Posted by jicafriends at 12:00 PM | Comments (0)
Province policie for disabilities' issues -Carlos kaiser
Dear Friends,
we have reached an incredible agreement in San Antonio Province, Chile. We
have a policie that will coordinate all effrots done by the municipal
authorities. Important authorities come to this great event.
We are using all knowledge we learnt from Japan. Please go ahead with your
international cooperation, it really works.
Carlos kaiser
Posted by jicafriends at 11:47 AM | Comments (0)
October 24, 2005
The situation of the earthquake on October 8th -Shafiq ur Rehman
Dear Friends,
I am Shafiq in Pakistan, an ex-Duskin trainee. I would like to report you
the situation of the earthquake on October 8th. Actually right now I came
back to Lahore after having taken the second trip to a village in Azad
Kashmir. The village we went did not get any support due to the location.
There were many people who got spinal code injury there. We met them and
encourage them.
We, the nine members from LIFE IL Center and five from Milestone went to
the most destroyed area to give them foods, medicines, used clothes,
blankets, warm towels and milk for children. We raised the donation from
500 persons in Lahore for foods, medicine (10,000 persons),
cloths (150 persons), blanket (55 persons), milk and dry food (500 persons.
The village named DHEER KOT in Hole district is on the very high mountain
12000 feet high. It took seven hour to reach there. We were surprised
at seeing that all people, 5,500 populations in the town have been dead.
All died not single person was survived. Then we moved to the next
mountain. It was very dangerous because the very heavy rain started
to fall. There was the district named Bagh. It was the third most
dangerous area because of the biggest disaster of quake.
Only some 5 thousands survived, most people died. I suspect
approximately 5,000 people will also die........... Because their homes were
all destroyed, they have no medicine; they cannot move from the city
because of lack of transportation.... most of them have intellectual
disabilities.......... no food they have. The helicopter cannot go there
because of the heavy rain and too High Mountain. Our group started to
search the survived people. The most of the homes became the grave for
families. Near me there was a broken home and some dogs were eating
a baby.
I thrown a stone on the dogs.. they run away. and one dog took the arm
of baby in his mouth and other were running with him...
I don’t share my grief and sorrow with you.... I cannot write in the words.
Because nobody can smell the dead bodies and see the white stuffed
faced. I have no power to write it.
If you want to help disabled persons......... There is no more disabled
people there because our all fellows already died. No more disability they
have.... There are some people who can survive if we can provide them
three things like tens, blankets and medicines. They don’t need water
because a lot of raining.
We made the target of saving 3000 Persons in BHAD District.
We are collecting things from the people and all people helping us.
We are trying our best. If we will succeed to deliver things in time
and they will survive. It will be a great achievement of our life.
But unfortunately we have only one or two week. Then snow will
start.............. No time to think any think. I could not sleep for last
four days. I cannot............ Pray for me. Thanks. Tomorrow and day
after tomorrow we have to continue collecting things.
Sorry I am very much tired and now have to go home.... may be can
have some sleep.
Thanks for reading my report. I believe that we can do some thing...
God bless you
Shafiq
Posted by jicafriends at 10:41 AM | Comments (2)
October 19, 2005
TRAINING REPORT for Leaders' Course on 13 October
Activities by persons with intellectual disabilities
(October 13, 2005)
Mr. Kenjiro Yamada lectured on the activities of "Yuai kai"
(Association for persons with intellectual disabilities).
He also shared his experience with us. Mr. Kaoru Suzuki,
Director of Welfare Home for intellectual disabilities and a
supporter of "Yuai kai" also gave us brief information on
the current situation of persons with intellectual disabilities.
In the afternoon we visited both Setagaya Municipal Kinuta
Kobo, Sheltered Workshop for Persons with Intellectual
Disabilities and "Sukippu",
Employment Support Center for Persons with Intellectual
Disabilities to observe how persons with intellectual
disabilities are engaged in their works and what kinds of
support or services they receive.
TRAINING REPORT in the JICA friends Web Site for more detail.
Posted by jicafriends at 04:30 PM | Comments (0)
TRAINING REPORT for Leaders' Course on 12 October
Visit : Tokyo Independent Living Support Center (October 12, 2005)
All the participants had a chance to visit Tokyo Independent
Living Support Center for the Deaf on Wednesday.
The purpose of this center is to promote social participation,
to provide services for a life-long education and to support
self-help and independent living of persons with hearing impairments.
Mr. Daisuke Ochi, Secretary General of Tokyo Federation of the Deaf
lectured on history and ovements persons with hearing impairments.
Two issues Mr. Ochi would like to realize are as follows:
- Sending a persons with hearing impairments to the Diet
- The offcial recognition of sign language in legislation
Nine participants experience the relay interpretation for the first time.
What Mr. Ochi used sign language and sign language was interpreter
into Japanese and then Japanese into English. This year we don't have
any participant with hearing impairment, so our daily lectures are only
interpreted into English when it's necessary.
It was a good experience for all of us to think of the real meaning of
inclusive society.
TRAINING REPORT in the JICA friends Web Site for more detail.
Posted by jicafriends at 04:25 PM | Comments (0)
TRAINING REPORT for Leaders' Course on 11 October
Current situation of persons with visual impairments
in Japan (October 11, 2005)
Mr. Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, Executive Director of International
Association for the Visually Impaired and one of the planning
committee members lectured on the current situation of
persons with visual impairments in Japan. He gave us a brief
information on education, employment, Brail library, guide
helper service and present issues which persons with visual
impairments is facing.
He also performed us "Shakuhachi", a bamboo flute and one
of the famous Japanese traditional musical instrument.
Long time ago there used to have many Shakuhachi player
with visual impairments in Japan. So he showed us how to
play and how it looks like.
In the afternoon all the participants are requested to wear
eye-masks and experience how to obtain information by
utilizing their remaining senses of touch, smell, taste and
hearing.
Nine participants were asked to distinguish between
Japanese bank notes and coins, pour a drink into a cup
and guess what the contents are, tell us differentiate
between side A and side B of a cassette tape and
distinguish fruits and vegetables. It became a meaningful
experience for everyone.
TRAINING REPORT in the JICA friends Web Site for more detail.
Posted by jicafriends at 04:22 PM | Comments (0)
TRAINING REPORT for Leaders' Course on 7 October
Basic of systems for persons with disabilities in Japan (October 07, 2005)
Mr. Kenichi Ohsuki, a planning commitee member lectured about
"Basic of systems for persons with disabilities in Japan".
Since the background of each country is different, so it is difficult
to understand the system fully in a day. However we could grasp
the outline of welfare services for persons with disabilities
in Japan due to his effort.
The systems he explained are as follows:
- Laws
- - Fundamental Laws for Persons with Disabilities
- - Law for the Welfare of Persons with Physical disability
- - Law for the Welafare of Persons with Intellectual Disability
- - Law Concerning Mental Health and Welfare for
the Mentally Disordered Persons
- Pension System
- Care System
TRAINING REPORT in the JICA friends Web Site for more detail.
Posted by jicafriends at 04:16 PM | Comments (0)
TRAINING REPORT for Leaders' Course on 5-6 October
Leadership Skills Training (October 05-06, 2005)
One of our regular lectures, "Leadership Skills Training",
participatory workshops were held by Mr. Yoshinori Ikezumi
on 5 and 6 October, 2005.
This training was made up of four sessions and the latter
part will be held on 19 and 20 of this month. We know
some of ex-participants have been organizing the same
leadership skills training by using the same materials and
techniques in their countries. Unfortunately we cannot
tell you about the contents of his training for those persons
who have not experienced yet.
TRAINING REPORT in the JICA friends Web Site for more detail.
Posted by jicafriends at 04:11 PM | Comments (0)
TRAINING REPORT for Leaders' Course on 4 October
Present State of Accessibility in Japan (October 04, 2005)
Mr. Yoshiaki Imafuku lectured on "Present State of Accessibility
in Japan" in the morning.
He focused on the implementation of the Barrier-Free
Transportation Law, which was established in 2000.
After the law was enacted the number of elevators or
toilets for wheelchair users installed at railway station
are significantly increasing. Platform gates and doors
prevent persons with visual imparied to fall from the
platforms. One-step ramp or non-step buses enable
persons with disabilities to go out easily.
(RESUME : "Present State of Accessibility in Japan")
In the afternoon we all went out to experience
the barrier-free transportation in Tokyo. Mr. Masashi
Watanabe and Ms. Masae Kashiwagi, planning committee
members kindly joined us and we all enjoyed half-day tour.
TRAINING REPORT in the JICA friends Web Site for more detail.
Posted by jicafriends at 03:58 PM | Comments (0)
from DAWN
The following news is downloaded from DAWN, Pakistan's most widely
circulated English language newspaper.
The Disaster Management Bill 2005 leaves 70 million disabled people
endangered
D.N.I.S. News Network - In what has now become a routine, so far as the
national policies are concerned, the Government of India has forgotten
about its approximately 70 million disabled citizens while framing The
Disaster Management Bill 2005. This unfortunate omission of disability
related concerns have greatly irked the disability sector.
As if in a providential act of a sad warning, the recent South Asian
earthquake has once again revealed vulnerability of the old, young and
disabled people during times of disaster. But these warnings seem to be
going in vain , as the Government and its agencies fail to address the
issue of focus on disability in its disaster management mechanisms and now
the Bill itself.
It is surprising for the disability sector that in the aftermath of the
Asian Tsunami disaster the impact on people with disabilities, both the
immediate and long-term, was emphatically and empirically highlighted,
using research studies, yet the Government has failed to take cognisance
of these inputs and demands.
National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People
(N.C.P.E.D.P.) in association with Disabled People's International - India
and Vidya Sagar had launched a campaign to get disability issues included
in the relief and rehabilitation work for the victims of Tsunami. As part
of their efforts to gather facts and information, they visited Andaman &
Nicobar Islands, which has suffered the heaviest loss in India. Following
this a report was produced that clearly highlighted the issues and
problems of people with disabilities.
To read Tsunami report click here
An All Party meeting was convened on 9th January 2005 to discuss the
relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the Tsunami affected
areas and assistance provided to the neighbouring countries in the region
affected by the Tsunami. It is in this meeting that the Government
informed that a Bill would be introduced in the Parliament during the
coming Budget Session for establishing the National Disaster Management
Authority and the Central Legislation on Disaster Management in the
country.
Disasters affect over 56 million people and kill over 5000 people in
India, annually. The annual economic loss on account of disasters is
estimated at 1,884 million dollars.
According to Oxfam, to better the survival chances of people with
disabilities during disasters, and to address their long-term needs call
for:
・An informed debate that is the responsibility of every constituent of
the civil society, especially the media, academicians, activists and other
interest groups.
・A 途eality check by humanitarian agencies to ensure that disability is
an integral part of their disaster response programme.
・Paradigm shift in disability and disaster related policy making, to
endorse the needs and rights of differently abled people.
It is important that the world recognises disaster-affected people not as
just passive victims, but as active survivors. Recognising that
humanitarian assistance is not an act of charity but a survival right of
the affected, may be the first step to break the
poverty-vulnerability-disaster-disability cycle.
Further, the media reports are replete with instances of mental trauma and
alienation that such high magnitude disasters cause not only to
communities but also individuals depending upon their vulnerability. In
addition to those who are disabled before the onset of the disaster many
more become disabled during the disaster.To read Disaster Management Bill
visit on this link http://rajyasabha.nic.in/bills-ls-rs/2005/LV_2005.pdf
Posted by jicafriends at 12:16 PM | Comments (0)
accessible tour -Carlos Kaiser
Dear Friends:
Algarrobo Town is a touristic place. We have incredible landscapes,
historical places and many traditions.
We have to improve our town for everyone who want to visit us. Along with
Tourism Municipal Office we create a methodology for blind people. We tested
it with blind people and they said they enjoy places as they never enjoyed
before.
We made a tour called "To see through the sences". We visit very special
places.
we invited people with other disabilities also.
It was a great experience
your Chilean friend
Carlos
Posted by jicafriends at 12:08 PM | Comments (0)
October 11, 2005
DAISY workshop in bangladesh -Vashkar Vattacharya
Dear Sir/Madam,
Greetings from YPSA!
It’s our pleasure to inform you that, YPSA is going to hold first Focal
Point Training [FPT] for DAISY Digital Talking Books [DTB] Production in
Bangladesh.
Focal Point Training [FPT] for DAISY DTB Production Organized by Young
Power in Social Action (YPSA) Under the DAISY For All [DFA] Project on 10th
to 15th October 2005 at the YPSA -HRDC Chittagong, Bangladesh.
The Major Objectives of Focal Point Training are:
・To develop ability of participants to use DAISY Production tools to
create DAISY 2.02 Digital Talking Books.
・To develop ability of participants to create DAISY 2.02 files.
The Training will be conducted in English and International experts on ICT
from Japan, Malaysia and India will be Facilitated the Training Workshop.
10 participants have selected from Focal Point Organization [YPSA],
Schools with visual impairment in Chittagong and Organizations from other
part of Bangladesh.
Persons with visual impaired and computer trainers got the priority.
DAISY stands for Digital Accessible Information System which can ensure
information in accessible format for the person with disabilities
especially for Print disabled.
“Our vision is that all published information is available to people with
print disabilities, at the same time and at no greater cost, in an
accessible, feature-rich, navigable format.”
To know more about DAISY please visit "DAISY Consortium"
http://www.daisy.org and "DAISY for All Project"
http://www.daisy-for-all.org
Sincerely yours,
Md. Arifur Rahman
Chief Executive
Contact Person for the Focal Point Training for DAISY DTB Production
in Bangladesh:
Mr. Vashkar Vattacharya
Program officer and
DAISY Focal point for Bangladesh
Young power in Social Action [YPSA]
House # F (10) P, Road # 13, Block-B, Chandgaon R/A, Chittagong-4212,
BANGLADESH
E-mail: info@vashkar.tk and info@ypsa.org
Tel: +88-031-672857
Mobile- +88-0178-345035
Web site- www.ypsa.org
Posted by jicafriends at 05:03 PM | Comments (0)
South Asia earthquake: A Message of concern -Okuhira. masako(JSRPD)
We, Jicafriends would like to express our sympathy for the people who suffer
from the earthquake on 8th October.
Not only Pakistan, but also India and Afghanistan must have been damaged.
We have heard the news from some of ex-participants that they were OK, but
still have not heard anything from many of them. Please inform us of any
news related to those Jicafriends.
Posted by jicafriends at 05:00 PM | Comments (0)
Changing the Environment -Aqeel Qureshi
"Persons with disabilities can also help themselves
by helping the persons with disabilities"
Nirula's has created a ramp at Nirula's Restaurant, Yusuf Sarai Community
Centre, New Delhi. From the last 45 days, we were continuously asking
Shri Gautam Kamra, Manager, Nirula's to provide a ramp for persons with
disabilities. We had made written request to the Manager; Nirula's to
make accessible path for persons with disabilities. I was keep asking and
pushing Nirula's Manager to make services for persons with disabilities. The
Manger of Nirula's is a very sensitive towards disabilities. They recently
constructed a ramp at their premises for persons with disabilities. This
ramp will also help us to access other places like Jet Airways office,
PNB Bank, Music Shop etc. I am so happy to see Nirula's has constructed a
ramp for persons with disabilities. He asked me to give some tips and advice
to make Nirula's more accessible for persons with disabilities.
I always get so scared when 4 people lifted me up. I have too often seen
that persons with disabilities are vulnerable. Whether we are stuck in a
home or denied access to places, we are often left out of the mainstream.
Who is going to change this state of affairs? It has to be us. Persons
with Disabilities have to gain power and make change with the help of
same-minded persons. I do not think we can't do it, WE CAN DO IT! What I learned
from this "we can do it", if we continue pushing or asking for our rights. I
never thought they could make it quickly. I am so thankful to Nirula's
Manager for listening me and they really deserve appreciation. They
really did a wonderful job.
We can change how society treats us because of our disabilities. We can
redress the lack of rights. We can work to eliminate the barriers,
stereotyping, the looks & the exclusion. The discrimination for persons
with disabilities continued in the society. I realized that we are not
serving our community's goals. If we are without a political goal, a strategy for
changing the environment otherwise we will continue to suffer.
I want society to be structured fairly to persons with disabilities. It's
society-our laws, customs, and norms that will change. We have to go far
to change the Indian Environment, where persons with disabilities can live
in the society with integrity & dignity.
Enclosed Please find attached a picture of the ramp at Nirula's.
Aqeel Qureshi
Posted by jicafriends at 11:13 AM | Comments (0)
Program Orientation (October 03, 2005) -T.Wayama (JSRPD)
Program orientation was conducted by the facilitation of planning committee members and JSRPD. In the beginning, all who attended introduced themselves. Objectives and details of 7 week programs were explained by planning committee members. The program was made in the vision of “Society for All”. There are four themes in the course namely “Self-development”, “Building network”, “Developing Organization”, and “Working towards regional/national policies”.
TRAINING REPORT in the JICA friends Web Site for more detail.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:59 AM | Comments (1)
Opening Ceremony held on 3 October -T.Wayama (JSRPD)
9 participants were warmly welcomed in the opening ceremony held in the afternoon of October 3.
Mr. Shiro Nebeya, Group Director, Program Group, Tokyo International Center, JICA and Mr. Shuzo Kataishi, Executive Director, Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD) made welcome speech. 6 planning committee members, JICA staff, JICE coordinators and JSRPD staff were also attended the ceremony.
TRAINING REPORT in the JICA friends Web Site for more detail.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:17 AM | Comments (0)
October 03, 2005
Some Photo for Gaza Strip -Emad A.R. KHALED
Posted by jicafriends at 04:23 PM | Comments (0)
teaching young generations -Carlos Kaiser
Dear friends,
yesterday morning little kids from a school visited the town Hall. They
visited my office. Their teacher wanted the kids to learn about persons with
disabilities. It was a very good iniciative. The kids were happy. they asked
me how can I use my computer and do my things.
Well, if we teach today's kid about people with disabilities we will have
better grown ups tomorrow.
your Chilean friends
Carlos
Posted by jicafriends at 10:09 AM | Comments (0)