« November 2005 | Main | January 2006 »
December 26, 2005
Dear JICA friends from JSRPD
Dear JICA friends,
We hope you are having happy holidays.
In Japan, it has been unusually cold. But we are fine and ready to meet a Happy New Year.
For ‘jicafriends’, the year of 2005 is very special because it is the starting year.
We could reach many ‘jicafriends’ through our homepage and share many information.
In addition, we had eighteen new friends from sixteen countries.
We really hope this network will expand more next year.
We wish you all have a Happy Happy New Year!!!
With Warm Regards,
JSRPD
Posted by jicafriends at 05:04 PM | Comments (1)
December 19, 2005
action plan -Sakher Khader QANDEEL (Leaders' course 2005)
Dear Friends,
I hope this email finds you well,.
First , I would like to apologize for not emailing you earlier , but we
needed the time to sort things out in our jobs and families.
Things are the same in Gaza but finally we are here .
The good news are that me and Sam started our action plan to establish the
first independent living center in Palestine.
The first meeting of the founder committee will be next week to discuss
the whole issue and plan strategies and regulations.
Wish us the best
We will keep you posted
Rocky and Sam
Sakher Qandeel (Rocky)
Tal El-Hawa
Gaza
Please refer to their Interim Report (Future Action Plan)
Posted by jicafriends at 12:32 PM | Comments (1)
December 15, 2005
Dear All -Takako Wayama (JSRPD)
Dear All
In the year 2003, a Bangladesh lady came to Japan.
She has spinal cord injury and obviously needs aisle chair during flight.
She booked the ticket without any problem.
However, when she informed the airline about her disability
she was requested NOT to travel alone.
The air line didn't aware the needs of their customer and not only that
rejected her to travel alone.
She had to cancel the flight and instead flew with other air line, which
accomodates aisle chair and had no problem in flying. I also heard this kind
of stories from other people.
I wonder if any of you have had same experiences like her
or have heard of stories.
Wayama, JSRPD
Posted by jicafriends at 04:31 PM | Comments (3)
December 12, 2005
Download
New reports say 800,000 Ghanaians are visually impaired
Dec.2005
Available statistics at the Ghana Eye Foundation (GEF) indicates that
200,000 Ghanaians are completely blind while 600,000 others are visually
impaired from causes, 75 per cent of which were avoidable.
This was contained in a GEF concept paper released at the official launch
of GEF and the swearing in ceremony of its Board of Trustees in Accra. The
Board includes Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS),
Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Chief Executive, Ghana Chamber of Mines,
Ms Joyce Rosalind Aryee, and three others.
The Foundation set up by the GHS with the brand name "Sight for Ghana" is
purposely to perpetually mobilise resources for eye care delivery. In that
regard the GEF is to collaborate with the Government and other eye health
organisations to achieve the aim of vision 2020: "The Right To See."
The GEF Concept paper noted that cataract, glaucoma, trachoma, childhood
blindness, refractive errors and low visions as well as diabetes and sickle
cell retinopathy accounted for the visual challenge facing the country.
It noted that every year 20,000 people became blind in both eyes from
cataract and an additional 4,000 people becoming blind in one eye due to
the same causes, saying it occurred mostly in persons over age 65 years.
Source: GNA
http://www.myradiogold.com/articles.php?nd=631
Posted by jicafriends at 03:25 PM | Comments (0)
Monthly report from YPSA -Vashkar Vattacharya
dear all,
please find the attachment.
best regard,
vashkar,
"DFA Monthly report of November"[ PDF, 47 KB ]
Posted by jicafriends at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)
December 08, 2005
International Day 3rd Dec -Muhammad Atif Sheikh
Dear All
The report of International Day of Disabled Persons observed in Islamabad
is attached for your information.
Regards
[ please refer to the Jicafriends web site uploaded this report. ]
Posted by jicafriends at 02:21 PM | Comments (0)
Download
"'Walk To Freedom' marks World Disability Day"－New Delhi
'Walk To Freedom', organized at the India Gate lawns on the occasion of
World Disability Day on Saturday, saw a crowd of 10,000 cheering the cause.
The event was organized by National Centre For Promotion of Empoloyment to
Disabled People (NCPEDP).
Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikishit was the guest of honour at the
function.
This year, the celebrations were centred around '10 years of the Disability
Act - It's time for act10N'. Many organisations working for the cause,
disabled people and schoolchildren from across the country participated
in the event. Said Sheila Dikshit, inaugurating the function :
"It is not individual but social responsibility to create awareness among
the physically disabled with regard to the facilities available for them and
how they can use them."
Javed Abidi, executive director , NCPEDP, said : "We have to create an
environment where they can lead life on equal terms. The first step in this
direction is creating a physically barrier-free environment where there are
ramps, lifts, braille and sign language."
The outlook towards disability could change only if the issue was under the
purview of human resource development ministry and not the ministry of
social justice and enpowerment, he added : "Disability is a development
issue, not a welfare issue.", he said.
The event kicked off with a cultural programme, including songs, dances and
skits. Barry John's theatre group Imago performed "Jaane mat dena yaaron", a
lively skit capturing society's callousness towards the disabled.
The eventrounded up with the 9th Walk to Freedom.
Posted by jicafriends at 11:54 AM | Comments (0)
opening ceremony -Carlos kaiser
It finally happens. we had our opening ceremony with
the Fosis ( Social and solidarity Investment Found).
They have a programme for people to overcome poverty.
We generate a new one with a methodology designed to work with PwDs.
Now, our 15 participants will start a better future running their own business.
Posted by jicafriends at 11:43 AM | Comments (0)
national award -Carlos kaiser
Dear Friends,
I am so happy to share a great news.
During the celebrations of the International Day Of Persons with
disabilities, The Municipal Office of PwD's Affairs of Algarrobo Town
(Which I have the honor to be in charge of) has won a national award
due to the work done on PwD's social inclusion.
It is a great honor to us to be choosen for this award.
We are a small office. We thanks people of Algarrobo town.
without them we would never done it. We thanks all of our
Municipal co workers, they are incredible professionals and
we work as a team.
We thanks Jica for training us and all the Jica Friends community
for sharing good ideas that we try to emmulate in Algarrobo, Chile.
We learnt that if we seek mastery of life we must first seek sincerity
of the heart. the previous is but a reflection of the latter.
So we are seeking sincerity of the heart to master how to build up
a barrier free society.
your friend and brother of arms
Carlos Kaiser
Posted by jicafriends at 11:39 AM | Comments (1)
A great sportman -Carlos kaiser
Dear Friends,
Last week we were visited by Tomas Del Villar.
He is a person with disabilities and a great sportman.
He practice ski. He encourage PwDs of Algarrobo to work hard
and be happy. we will apply him to represent Independent Living
Chile in "Leaders of Persons with disabilities" 2006.
Carlos
Posted by jicafriends at 11:02 AM | Comments (0)
December 06, 2005
The Survey of Access to information and communication for persons with disabilities-Misako.Arai(JSRPD)
We, JSRPD are conducting the Survey of Access to information and
communication for persons with disabilities, including communication and
assistive technologies in the Asian and Pacific region.
The aim of this survey is to submit the data to the mid-point review (2007)
of the decade, we will gather the information about the situation of the ICT
and implementation of BMF and to facilitate implementation of the BMF
targets in an area of information accessibility.
And ICT Task Force will make a list of the ICT-related organization
for Persons with disability in Asian and Pacific region with
the help of TWG-DC members in order to obtain
their contact details and activities.
You are kindly requested to complete and return the form to:
ICTsurvey@list.jsrpd.jp
For details,
Covering Letter(MS Word,Text)
Survey Form(MS xls,Text,CGI)
Posted by jicafriends at 06:36 PM | Comments (1)
December 05, 2005
Dear Friends, - Yi Veasna (NCDP)
Dear Friends,
May I thank you in advance of looking my award certificate
given by the Shiga Prefecture Governor in Japan as attached file.
I thank you very much to the Kazuo Itoga Memorial Foundation,
Shiga Prefecture Governor and vice Governor, all the board member
of Kazuo Itoga Memorial Foundation and Secretary general with
the staff and Japanese friends whom preparing such a very official
protocol and very professional way of preparing the ceremony,
I belief the Initiative of Kazuo Itoga Memorial Foundation will spread
the spirit all over Asia and the world, and encourage many more PWD
to challenging in promote the quality of life and the rights to be full
participation.
During the 3 December International Day of People with Disability 2005,
I and NCDP management team would like to wishing you all the best and
successfully of preparing 2006 action.
Regards,
Yi Veasna
NCDP Executive Director
Posted by jicafriends at 11:24 AM | Comments (2)
Further report Ⅱ（The situation of the earthquake on October 8th） -Shafiq ur Rehman
Earthquake on 8th of October 2005 played havoc in whole Pakistan
especially in Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas. Many of the beautiful
green valleys have turned into graveyard.
The homes, Schools, Public buildings and places have lost there signs. Most of the people are dead and those survived are dying daily. Some got Spinal Injuries, some lost their legs and hands but a number of people lost their families. In this scenario “Milestone Society for the Special Persons” already visited destroyed Azad Kashmir valley and distributed required daily items and medicine on 11th of October.
In its second tour the society visited Northern Areas including Abbotabad, Thandyani, Pattan Kalan and Pattan Khurd villages and distributed daily items and medicine among the effected victims.
Then the Society made its third visit in this connection as the World Bank called the society members to visit the newly disabled children, women and men that had been accommodated by the World Bank in Islamabad. The members of the Milestone Society (Mr. Shafiq, Mr. Akmal, Mr.Ashar) visited National Institute of Special Education Islamabad on 25th of October, during the visit these members met different earthquake victims there and the newly got disabled persons including children, women and men that were being treated there. The society members encouraged and empowered the victims and made them learn to face life and accept it with all its realities how bitter they may be. The Technical Advisor of the World Bank Miss Susan Hirshberg requested the society members to arrange 5 wheelchairs and crutches for the earthquake victims who need them on urgent basis because the wheelchairs available there in the institution does not suit these victims. The Milestone Society were full of passions and devotion to help the poor homeless people who have lost all their hopes, all their dreams for a better life have been shattered, they have eyes but they are Vacant stares, they have legs but lost their way, they have no way to go, no shoulder is there for them to cry on. So with this thought of helping these effected people Milestone society members came back Lahore and arranged the required 5 wheelchairs and crutches. Without wasting time the six members of the society including one from Islamabad (Mr. Asim, Mr. Ashar, Mr. At if, Mr. Hamid, Ms. Fahmina, Mr. Zahid) with the mission to infuse a fresh spirit of life into these people started their journey at 12:00 am at night. They had 5 wheelchairs and crutches to distribute among the earthquake victims who had lost their legs because of heavy debris; the weather was cold but not the courage. Early at morning the members reached Islamabad after getting fresh the members visited NISE (National Institute of Special Education) to distribute wheelchairs and empower the earthquake victims there. At first the members met doctor and Miss Susan Hirshberg and they made the members visit the victims, seeing disabled among them was very encouraging for the victims there, they could not just imagine that the disabled people could move easily and when they got to know that these disabled people have come to help and empower them from Lahore it was like infusing a fresh spirit of life into them.
The members visited every earthquake victim there and empowered them, they made them learn to live life accepting their disabilities, life does not depend on legs or hands, life is to live, these words made their faces smile and they thanked the members for providing them with a shoulder to cry on.
After visiting the victims the members went to the victims who need wheelchair. Those victims were having wheelchairs but they did not suit their needs, they could not use them with ease, so it was the reason that they thought is better to resort to their beds or in their mother’s laps. The Milestone Society members distributed 5 wheelchairs among 5 earthquake needy victims mostly children. The accessible wheelchair that is quite easy to use was like a toy for them, by using it their faces got fresh and smiley as if someone had given their movement back to them. They got life because they could move now, they were free like a bird to move wherever they want.
The smiling faces of these children made the members more enthusiastic and somehow satisfied to help further. After distributing the wheelchairs these members got to know that a 16 years old girl got Spinal Injury and she is admitted to Al-Shifa International Hospital, it’s the next building to the NISE building. Without wasting a single moment these members moved to this Hospital and met that girl with Spinal Cord Injury.
The Plight of this girl was quite miserable; she had stopped eating and talking. Her mother told that she had lost all interests in life, she is as a dead body, But the Milestone Society members with sharing their valuable experiences and knowledge, made this girl quite at ease. The members gave her the knowledge and information about daily life, how to pass urine and stool, how to take bath, how the eat, when to eat, these were the basic informations that no one had given her, it was like giving her life back, hearing it the girl’s face got life, she promised to eat, she promised to live her life like others. She is accepting the realities of life that she has to live with this Spinal injury.
A lady doctor there told the Milestone Society members that there are four more Spinal Injury women admitted to Hospital so they must visit them too. Without wasting a single moment the members reached those ladies, they had the same fears like that girl. They had stopped eating and taking interest in life, they had no information about Spinal Injury but the members solved their problem, they let them know about the Spinal Injury. They shared their experiences and made them live Independently. It is so encouraging to mention here that a lady who was weeping the moment the members entered the room and is not less than a miracle that when she got information and observed the society members moving on wheelchairs and doing their jobs, she was smiling and saying that she is happy now, it is ready to face life. It was the moment that can never be forgotten, weeping eyes turned into smiling face. Then it was the time of Iftar, so the members moved to hotel to get Iftar, after that the members decided to visit Jinnah Stadium which is being used as hospital by the Interior Ministry and Capital Development Authority.
The members met the Doctor there, it was so encouraging that the Doctor there was very cooperative. The Milestone members told the Doctor the purpose of their visit, the doctor was impressed and admired the job done by the Milestone Society, he had good knowledge and understanding about the Independent Living because his own mother was Spinal Cord for last 42 years, he allowed the member to visit the victims and share their knowledge. The victims there were quite happy to find the disabled people with a valuable knowledge for them. The children there shared their experiences of the earthquake that how they faced the earthquake in their schools, they could not get moments to come out of their schools, and they were detained under heavy debris and were found and brought out after 2 days. Many of them lost their legs and hands. Most of them got head injuries, a little girl got head injury and doctor say that she cannot speak. The society members visited every victim and made them at ease, made them smile and gave them courage to face life with every condition.
The society members celebrated Birthday of a girl with head injury there and sang song for her. Many of the parents shared their grieves and reservations with the society members, the society members listened them and gave them the knowledge that they need. They were quite relax now that they spent lot of there time with Milestone members, they thanked the Milestone members for their knowledge and promised to live an Independent life without any fear of society’s attitude. They promised that they will go back to their lives with smiling faces and stout hearts and live it sitting in wheelchairs because everything is created by God the Almighty and he creates well. This is the start of the next step of our efforts.
In the first step which was short term we did the support of shelter , food and medicine.
The second step which is long term we are trying to make them rehabilitate. Until now what we did is in short is.
Visit for Kashmir the effected area 7 times.
Visited Islamabad different Hospitals and field hospitals to see Spinal code injury people 8 time.
This month November this tragedy is most busy month because snow fall is started from last week.
Very urgent and very important issue is that we did not found more two disabled persons until now, who had disability before earth quack and they could reached any hospital or a rehabilitation centre. The question is that were are now these disabled persons?
Are they all died?
Are they still waiting for help in broken homes on very high peaks?
Are they still hidden by families?
Are they survived and feeding by there families? But if they survived the millions of people living without homes in Tents but the disabled persons not in tents in field area……. Why? Are they still waiting for death in broken homes?
These are questions which we are going to use the resources to inquire them.
We are willing to have the more wheelchairs to the new disabled because when the will back to their home town then they can ask government for barrier free construction and also demonstrate for inclusive education. Its too big task and we want to make only the base. We believe that we can get the advantage from disadvantage.
Why we have this believe? That is your great help, your great efforts for mankind. Your loving attitude the disabled persons. Your great time which you people are spending for us, Your very precious money which you people are sending us.
I am personally responsible for the answering and inquiry for any thing for your donations. I really responsible for your trust.
Thanks a lot.
SHAFIQ
Posted by jicafriends at 11:12 AM | Comments (1)
December 01, 2005
Bangkok , Thailand
”Transportation Accessibility Campaign"
November 27th is the Day for the Campaign of the Transportation
Accessibility in Thailand and every year a demonstration is held.
On the 29th of November this year, approximately 50 people were
demonstrating in front of the Cabinet Office from an early hour
in the morning. This was broadcasted live on the radio in the morning.
In relation to the extension plan of BTS Sky Train service and
the construction of new international airport replacing
the Bangkok International Airport, the written request
for the barrier-free environment was submitted to
the government, however up to now there has been no response
from the government. No officer even appeared in this morning to respond.
The demonstration was closed later when an officer in charge
finally received the letter from the demonstrating side.
The members of AJU (nonprofit organization in Aichi-prefecture,
Japan, which aims to improve the life of persons with severe
disabilities) who were on the study-tour in Thailand also participated
in requesting for barrier-free consideration from the perspectives
of the tourists.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:26 AM | Comments (1)
Download
I found the following news about our JICA friend, Mr. Javed Abidi, a
participant of Leaders' course 1995.
Court Summons Railway Official over Rights of Disabled
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Tuesday summoned the Railway Board chairman
to appear before it to tell what the railways have done to facilitate the
entry of physically challenged passengers into trains.
A division bench comprising judges Vijender Jain and Rekha Sharma directed
the chairman to appear in the court Dec 19 when counsel for the Railway
Board failed to satisfy it on the point of building ramps at railways
stations to allow the physically challenged to board trains without hassles.
The bench also directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which is
responsible for the management of airfields across the country, to send
senior officers to the court on the next date to apprise it of steps taken
to facilitate the entry of disabled people into airports.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation by noted rights activist
Javed Abidi, who had sought directions for setting up ramps for the
physically challenged as provided under the Persons With Disabilities
(Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995.
The act makes it mandatory for the central and state governments to
provide such facility for the disabled.
Ashok Aggarwal, amicus curiae in the matter, said the railways should
learn from the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC), which had taken
care of the needs of the physically challenged at its stations.
Aggarwal contended the Railway Board, AAI and Archaeological Survey of
India had done virtually nothing to help the physically challenged to
access their facilities without problems.
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=58498
Posted by jicafriends at 10:22 AM | Comments (0)
Monthly report -Vashkar Vattacharya
Dear all,
Greetings from YPSA!
attached is the monthly Report of October 2005
DFA activities in Bangladesh.
Apologies for my delay.
best Regard,
Vashkar,
"DFA Monthly report"[ PDF, 45 KB ]
Posted by jicafriends at 10:17 AM | Comments (0)