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October 22, 2007
TRAINING REPORT : Presentation of Personal History
Oct 6, 2007 : Presentation of Personal History
Today 10 participants presented their personal history to share their experiences among the participants and the Japanese relevant personnel.
The briefing room was full of audience. Five planning committee members were present to raise questions and give comments. Also six trainees of Duskin Leadership Training joined to this program. As two of them were persons with hearing impairments, two sign language interpreters came to secure information access for everyone. Duskin trainees also contributed to the session by raising many questions.
All presentations were different from one another e.g. using power point, showing video clips, playing background music etc., but they were all informative. Through sharing information and experiences, we could get to know more about each other and lay foundation for further mutual understanding.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2007/training/l1006.html
Posted by jicafriends at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)
October 16, 2007
TRAINING REPORT : Transportation Accessibility in Japan
Oct 5, 2007 : Transportation Accessibility in Japan
by Mr. Yoshiaki IMAFUKU,
Transportation Affairs Officer, DPI-Japan
AM : Accessibility Check in Tokyo Metropolitan City
The participants were blessed with a sunny autumn day. It was the best climate for exploring Tokyo Metropolitan City while checking its transportation accessibility. 10 participants were divided into three groups and each group took a different route.
Group 1 : Paricipants from Chile, Honduras and Zimbabwe.
Check points :
1. A part of platform raised to clear the level difference, and
2. Platform gate
Group 2 : Participants from Costa Rica, Kyrgyz and Laos.
Check points :
1. Multi-function toilet for all users by the Universal Design,
2. Non-step streetcar, and
3. An elevator that has an exit in the right-angle direction from an entrance door
Group 3 : Participants from Cameroon, Nepal, Yemen and Zimbabwe.
Check points :
1. Platform gate and
2. Non-step bus
PM : Lecture on Current Situation and Challenges of Transportation Accessibility in Japan as of 2007
Mr. Imafuku has many years of experience of fighting for transportation accessibility in Japan. Using the photos we took during the accessibility check in the morning, Mr. Imafuku explained about the current situation and challenges of transportation accessibility in Japan. One of the messages Mr. Imafuku conveyed was that the most important thing is not just to have such devices as ramps or gates. What is more important is the people such as train staff who bring these devices.
Before closing today's session, the course participants shared the condition of transportation accessibility in each country.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2007/training/l1005.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:24 PM | Comments (0)
October 15, 2007
Celebrating White Cane Day-Sri Lanka
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
By Madhushala Senaratne
Sunday Times.lk - Columbo,Sri Lanka
October 14, 2007
"Give them your eyes…..give them an opportunity to 'see' the world as you see", is the theme of this year's International White Cane Day, which will be celebrated in Sri Lanka on October 19. White Cane Day celebrates the achievements of people who are visually impaired across the globe. Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC will once again join the Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped (SLFVH) in marking the event this year.
First introduced in the 1920s in the U.S.A, the 'white cane', is the blind man's symbol, his guide and protector. "The slogan 'Give them your eyes' simply means treat the blind equally. Provide them similar opportunities and do not simply discard them," CEO/Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC Kishu Gomes said at a press conference at the Galle Face Hotel last week. "The blind man too has many capabilities. It is opportunity that they lack," he said.
The 'White Cane Walk', organized by Chevron and SLFVH which aims to bring together over 1000 visually impaired people will commence from the open air theatre at the Viharamaha Devi park at 2 p.m. and end at the Public Library. An awareness meeting will be held at the Public Library at 4 p.m.
Chevron has also awarded a self-employment package to talented blind musician Bernard Fernando who had lacked the necessary funds to purchase proper equipment.
Chevron has been associated with the sight and hearing impaired community of Sri Lanka for many years through its many social responsibility projects aimed at uplifting their living standards.
Since 2001 the organisation has conducted various projects involving the deaf and blind schools across the country such as allocating funds for the purchase of equipment and organizing sports projects.
Last year, in marking White Cane Day in Sri Lanka, Chevron offered self employment packages for 50 visually handicapped people and awarded scholarships to 10 A'L students selected by SLFVH."Through these projects we aim to create awareness amongst the general community encouraging greater assistance to support the activities and endeavours of this special group of people," Mr. Gomes said.
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071014/Plus/plus00024.html
Posted by jicafriends at 08:19 PM | Comments (0)
October 14, 2007
TRAINING REPORT : Visit to Tokyo Metropolitan Sports Center for the Disabled
Oct 7, 2007:
Visit to Tokyo Metropolitan Sports Center for the Disabled
(unofficial visit)
One week has passed since the training program started on Monday Oct. 1.
Although today's visit was unofficial and not obligatory, all participants decided to visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Sports Center for the Disabled. Mr. Ueno, chairperson of Planning Committee and his friend Mr. Kanoya accompanied them all day.
As it was Saturday, the center was full of people and there was a lively atmosphere. All participants made their own user's card and with this card they can come back to use this center at anytime for free of charge. The participants observed the center's facilities and then tried some exercising equipments and played table tennis etc.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2007/training/l1007.html
Posted by jicafriends at 06:53 PM | Comments (1)
TRAINING REPORT : Leadership Skills
Oct 3 & 4, 2007 : Leadership Skills (Theme: Self-development)
by Mr. Yoshinori Ikezumi,
Regional Coordinator of International People's Health Council South East / Pacific and North East Asia
Mr. Ikezumi has a lot of experience as an NGO worker in many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. On Wednesday and Thursday, the participants had a stimulating session on leadership skills with him. The theme of the two days session was 'self-development'. A participatory approach is used in his workshop and everyone in the room without exception is encouraged to participate and contribute to the process of learning. We would like to leave the details of workshop contents secrete for future participants to discover.
We have four days with Mr. Ikezumi during this training course and the next session is on Oct. 16 and 17 with a theme 'teamwork/network building and organizational building'.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2007/training/l1003.html
Posted by jicafriends at 06:49 PM | Comments (0)
October 11, 2007
One Big Achievement in Nepal
Unbelievable!
Even my eyes could not believe it! In the country where there is not even a single toilet in heart of city which wheelchair user could use; one ministry building has installed an elevator which can make sound, some ministries are making ramps and some have promised to make it later. Credit goes to, of course, to the members of Independent Living Center, and Krishna has shown good possibility to be a good leader! Now I am dreaming the clear possibility where expertise and movement are going together to make more sustainable, more acceptable and beautiful solution where nobody would have to lose or to win. A Win-Win solution for everybody!
K. C. Deepak
8th Duskin Trainee
Nepal
Posted by jicafriends at 05:02 PM | Comments (0)
October 10, 2007
TARINING REPORT : My Daily Life
Oct 2, 2007 : My Daily Life
What is the daily life of persons with disabilities in Japan like?
The first lecture of this training course was two case studies of daily life of persons with disabilities in Japan. Ms. Horiuchi, committee member, and Ms. Sadaie, Jica officer, explained about their everyday life using video clips which filmed their daily activities such as cooking, cleaning, traveling, shopping etc. The participants could learn what kind of services are provided for persons with disabilities in Japan and how they live independently.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2007/training/l1002.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:43 PM | Comments (0)
TRAINING REPORT : Opening Ceremony and Program Orientation
Oct 1, 2007 : Opening Ceremony and Program Orientation
The Opening Ceremony was held at JICA Tokyo today to celebrate the start of the training course in Leadership Development of Persons with Disabilities.
This year, we welcomed 10 participants from 10 different countries:
Cameroon, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Nepal, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.
It was followed by the program orientation by Mr. Ueno, a chairperson of Planning Committee. Each participant introduced him/herself and expressed his/her anticipation for this training course.
Before closing today’s session, JICA demonstrated some assistive devices available at JICA Tokyo where the participants are staying.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2007/training/l1001.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:28 PM | Comments (0)
Barrier Free Campaign
Konnichiwa!
I would like to send you the photoes of the barrier free campaings. Please find the attached documents herewith.
Thank you
Sincerely Your's
Krishna Gautam
Barrier Free Campaign
CIL-Kathmandu organized the Barrier Free Campaigns on 2nd October 2007: More than 150 Persons with Disabilities gathered and Appealed to the government to make the infrastructure barrier free and to implement the programs decided by the government. Campaign visited the ministry of home, ministry of finance, ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Ministry of Physical Planning and Work, Ministry of Information and Communication. Persons with Disabilities demanded the government to implement the national laws and legislations, to provide employment and social security, to make barrier free infrastructure, information and communication, to provide the fund to launch the activities of IL.
Ministers from the ministry of home and ministry of finance came down and addressed the campaign group. They welcome and informed that they have made slopes, ramps and lifts in their building and will circular in every offices of their ministries. They also promised to make infrastructure barrier free and to implement the works demanded by the PWDs. Similarly, Secretaries from the ministries of Women, Children, and Social Welfare, ministry of Physical Planning and Work and Ministry of Information and Communication welcome and informed the activities done by their ministries. PWDs raised several question to them to listen the voices of PWDs. Official's advice group not to give up the campaign to get the rights. They also promised to do something good to the PWDs.
Posted by jicafriends at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)
October 04, 2007
TRAINING REPORT : Orientation and mobility training for participants with visual impairments
Sep 24, 2007 : Orientation and mobility training for participants with visual impairments
A participant from Honduras arrived first at JICA Tokyo on September 23,
2007 and Indonesian participant arrived next day for the orientation and mobility training inside JICA Tokyo. With intention to attend general orientation and briefing organized by JICA and JICE together with other participants, they arrived earlier.
Mr. Yuichi Nagaoka, manager of guidance and training section at Tokyo Independent Living Support Center for the Visually Impaired was in charge of orientation and mobility training for them. And now they could walk around JICA Tokyo freely.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2007/training/l0924.html
Posted by jicafriends at 11:25 PM | Comments (0)