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June 26, 2008
Condolence from NANCI-Mexico
Sorry, I feel sad for this notice, he was a special teacher in our curse,
he is in my heart for ever.
Posted by jicafriends at 03:37 PM | Comments (0)
Training Report : June 23, 2008 AM Program Orientation
Welcome to Japan!
Six participants from the following six countries - Bangladesh, China, Fiji, Laos, Nepal, and Vietnam - arrived on June 17.
Today, the training program started.
In the morning, Mr. Masaya ASAHI, Course Leader and Planning Committee Member, explained about the course, giving the outline of the training program.
Two more out of five planning committee members were present too; Mr. Akira TERASHIMA and Mr. Yoshimichi OGAWA. The participants will receive lectures from the planning committee members during the course.
Each participant introduced himself/herself in turn and also stated their expectation for the coming up training. We could see that the participants were all highly motivated to learn from Japan and from each other.
Let's Explore, Encounter and Change with jicafriends!
http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2008/training/v0623am.html
Posted by jicafriends at 12:16 PM | Comments (0)
June 18, 2008
Disability Rights Fund Opens Grantmaking to DPOs in 7 Countries
The following information was obtained from Intl-Dev mailing list with cooperation of Dr. Amy Wilson, Gallaudet University.
The Disability Rights Fund-- which was launched by the Open Society
Institute, The Sigrid Rausing Trust, the United Kingdom Department for
International Development, and an anonymous donor on the first
anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (CRPD) -- is to empower disabled persons organizations
in the developing world and Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union to
effectively implement and monitor the CPRD.
In 2008, the Fund plans to give out a total of USD $700,000 in one-year
grants ranging from USD $5000 - $50,000 and aimed at awareness-raising,
strengthening coalitions and networks, and rights advocacy.
To be eligible for this year’s grants program, applicant organizations
must be based in and conduct the majority of their activities in the
following seven countries: in Africa, Ghana, Namibia and Uganda; in
Latin America, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Peru; in Asia, Bangladesh. In
these countries, the Fund will support Disabled Persons’ Organizations
activities that advance the human rights of persons with disabilities at
country-level.
Interested organizations are urged to review the full eligibility
criteria and application details posted at the Fund’s website,
www.disabilityrightsfund.org.
Any questions on the proposal process should be directed to
info@disabilityrightsfund.org by July 15.
The deadline for applications is August 15.
Disability Rights Fund Steering Committee Co-Chair, William Rowland,
President of the World Blind Union, stated "The Disability Rights Fund
heralds an innovative partnership between donors and persons with
disabilities. The flow of new resources to support our struggle for
rights is a development of major significance."
Posted by jicafriends at 01:20 PM | Comments (0)
June 17, 2008
Singxay Lor in Laos-Lao PDR
The following is a short story of myself. made by POWER international.
Singxay LOR, participant of Vacational Rehab. Course 2006
ICT Training for people with visually impaired.
Phontan Tai village, Xaysetha District, Vientiane Capital.
Singxay Lor in Laos
‘Employment is key to equality’
Singxay (left) with Lao Disabled People’s Staff
WORKING WITH THE EFFECTS OF POLIO
Singxay contracted polio at the age of 3 and has been disabled ever since. As an adult he has been able to receive free treatment at the National Rehabilitation Centre – one of POWER International’s projects - to have his leg operated on to give him more flexibility and is now able to walk without a stick although he still limps. His leg has been fitted with a brace.
WORKING WITH OTHERS FOR EQUALITY
He has been a member of Lao Disabled People’s Association, a partner of POWER International, since 2003, and is trained in IT. He was also funded to go to Japan where he received leadership and skills training. He assists LDPA in its work in communicating the needs and rights of disabled people by helping them with their database needs.
WORKING FOR THE FUTURE
Singxay’s wife has just had a baby of whom they are both very proud. From their small home on the outskirts of the city they supplement their income by teaching people computer skills in the afternoons. In the mornings Singxay makes books in Braille for blind people.
Singxay sees employment as key for disabled people to fulfil their potential and achieve their rights.
Singxay, helped by the work of POWER International and its partners, has been equipped for the present and looks forward to a future where there is equality for people with disabilities.
POWER International: Story of Change Singxay 2007
Posted by jicafriends at 02:48 PM | Comments (1)
June 12, 2008
Deaf Association Cautions Public-Ghana
We found the name of the former participant of Leaders Course 2003, Mr. Samuel Kwesi Asare in the following article. It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)
3 June 2008
Posted to the web 3 June 2008
Michael Addo
The Ghana National Association of the Deaf has expressed grave reservations, about how some members of the public are exploiting its members, for monetary gain. It has uncovered that some members of the public, have devised a new method to deceive unsuspecting and innocent citizens, to solicit for financial assistance.
This was made known by the President of the Ghana National Association of the Deaf, Mr. Samuel Kwesi Asare, in Accra.
Speaking at a one-day sensitization workshop in Accra, the National President regretfully anounced how unfortunate, disgracing, heart-breaking and disappointing, their activities were to the association. Often times, he noted, these fraudsters, most of whom are foreign nationals from Nigeria, Togo, Ivory Coast and Liberia, engage the services of the deaf, to carry out their nefarious activities.
These deaf beggars, with the support of their 'contractors,' often design and print out fake identity cards, forms, letterheads and rubber stamps, all in the name of the association, School for the Deaf, and the Ghana Education Service (GES), which they distribute to individuals, groups and organisations for support.
What the exploited deaf beggars receive in return for their service is a commission, based on the day's output.
Considering the negative image, which this practice is carving for the association, and the entire nation, Mr. Asare has asked the public not to support such persons, since it was against the rules and regulations of the Association.
This, he said, demeaned their personalities and that of the Association.
He also advised members of the public, to refrain from offering financial support to these deaf beggars. Instead, he has urged the public to refer them to the Association, or report them to the nearest Police Station.
In effect, the Association has distanced itself from this shameful act.
Mr. Asare underscored the importance of putting an end to the activities of these contractors of the deaf.
The Association has encouraged its members to do their best, to support their respective families, and the entire nation.
"It was for this reason that the association organizes programs, to create sources of livelihood for unemployed members of the association, by implementing income-generating projects, on a per region basis," he noted.
These programmes include breadmaking, batik and tie-and-dye production in the Central Region, soap-making in the Brong Ahafo Region, gari-processing in the Eastern Region, and farm projects in the Ashanti and Volta regions.
That notwithstanding, he emphasized that the Association also implements Family Welfare Projects, aimed at educating the deaf on reproductive health, family planning and responsible parenthood, gender-based violence, and HIV/AIDS.
Sports Development Projects are also implemented in the regional and district branches, to develop and enhance the physical and social well-being of the deaf, as well as promote their participation in sporting activities, in the country and abroad.
On this basis, the National President expressed concern about why the deaf would engage themselves in such shameful acts, with regards to the association's efforts to provide a better living for them.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200806030953.html
Posted by jicafriends at 01:33 PM | Comments (0)
June 06, 2008
Helping Move-Sri Lanka
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
05 Jun, 2008 08:03:51
Sri Lanka access for disabled campaign gets corporate support June 05, 2008 (LBO) - Only two percent of the public buildings in Sri Lanka have easy access to the disabled,
CEAT Tyres which is backing an organization that is campaigning to improving access to public buildings by the disabled, has said. "Statistics show that less than two per cent of all buildings, private or public, have access for the mobility impaired," Oscar Braganza, managing director of CEAT Sri Lanka , was quoted as saying in a statement.
"Wittingly or unwittingly we are discriminating against this increasingly large sector of the community."
The Tyre Maker is supporting 'IDIRIYA', an organization of professionals that is campaigning to improve access of public buildings to the disabled.
“Very often what is needed is very simple. For example, access to each and every public and private building and its facilities," Braganza said at a ceremony to launch a book called ‘Access Ability For All - Why You?’ by the IDIRIYA organization.
"We know this to be a fact instinctively, but somehow our corporate plans and strategy do not factor in this basic human right.”
Activists say the true extent of the disabled in Sri Lanka is not known.
"Decision makers should not be misguided by the published figures on disability, which are often underestimated," IDIRIYA secretary general Ajith Perera said.
"For numerous reasons, disability in both visible and invisible forms is on the rise in Sri Lanka. Today, the risk of becoming disabled has become a grave social problem afflicting a wide range of people."
"By the way we continue to design our buildings, man is creating more physical barriers to man in attending to normal daily activities. This is wholly unacceptable in modern day Sri Lanka.
Activists are promoting ‘designing for inclusion’ in Sri Lanka’s construction industry to accommodate the increasing numbers of people who are physically or sensorily disadvantaged.
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1002742863
Posted by jicafriends at 04:45 PM | Comments (0)
June 02, 2008
Helping hands from a disabled farmer-China
We found the following information from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" and it reminded us of Pakistan earthquake. On hearing of the quake Pakistanees with disabilities rushed to the stricken area and helped those who became the disabled. We are proud of them and the following disabled farmer.
Source: CCTV.com | 06-01-2008 14:58
Special Report: Strong quake jolts SW China
Many people lost their homes and relatives in the earthquake. But instead of feeling hopeless, some are managing to be strong and help others. Our reporter Pan Deng follows a disabled farmer who lost his son in the quake in one of the worst-hit areas. Helping hands from a disabled farmer(Photo: CCTV.com)
It's a long way to recover. This road is now tougher for Huang Gang. He lost his son in the disaster.
"Every time I think about my boy, I feel so sad. It's fine when I am not thinking about anything, but I feel sad when I touch this scar. He was just 16. Actually he didn't even reach his 16th birthday, it was still couple of months away. Yes, I am deep in sadness, but I have to help others to carry their children's bodies home. All the kids are the same. They studied in the same class. I have to take all of them back. I'm disabled, so I can't carry them, but I have my vehicle."
As well as losing his son, he also lost his newly-built house, which cost nearly all of his savings. It will have to be torn down and rebuilt.
http://www.cctv.com/english/20080601/102760.shtml
Posted by jicafriends at 03:08 PM | Comments (0)