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September 30, 2009
Ratification by the Lao Government-Lao PDR
We have received a very good news from Seevanh, a participant of Leadership Development Course 2008, that the Lao Government just signed during the UN General Assembly the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with disabilities. ( CRPD)
Thank you, Seevanh, for sharing the good news with us, your jicafriends. We are sure that Lao Government will step forward towards the realization of "society for all."
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 03:18 PM | Comments (0)
September 29, 2009
Condolence for Mr. Hideo Kobayashi, Izumizaki Village Mayor
Mr. Hideo Kobayashi, Mayor of Izumizaki Village, Fukushima Prefecture, passed away on September 17, 2009, while at his home, of an acute ischemic cardiac disease. He was 63 years old.
It is too early for him to say good-bye to everyone...
We still vividly remember his smiling face at the welcome party for JICA participants of Decent Work Course 2009 which was held at Cocoron, a life support center for persons with mental disability on July 8, 2009.
Mr. Hideo Kobayashi's death is a great loss not only to Izumizaki village but also the entire world since JICA participants from all over the world visit Izumizaki village every year to learn how persons with mental disabilities work and live happily in the community through Cocoron activities.
http://jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2009/training/v0708pm.html
A vigil organized by village is going to be held on October 4.
We would like to convey our sincerest condolence to his family.
Mr. Kobayashi worte an artilce about the participants' visit to Izumizaki on blog page for Izumizaki Village site. Sorry it was written in Japanese, but you can find a participant photo.
http://blog.livedoor.jp/izumizaki/archives/51583501.html
Posted by jicafriends at 02:54 PM | Comments (1)
September 28, 2009
"Disabled walk set for Moi Day"-Kenya
The following news related persons with mental disabilities in Kenya was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
24 September 2009
Families of people with mental disabilities will no longer have to struggle with the upkeep of their kin.
The Kenya Society for the Mentally Handicapped has launched a Fund that will see every person with mentally disability receive Sh4,500 every month for the rest of their lives to cater for their livelihood. To kick off the fund, retired president Daniel Moi dedicated this year’s Moi Day celebrations to a charity walk to raise funds towards alleviating the suffering of the mentally disabled persons whose number stands at 3.5 million in Kenya alone.
Speaking at a press conference at his Kabarnet Gardens in Nairobi on Thursday, the retired head of state listed the discomforts those with mental disabilities endured on a daily basis. Mr Moi singled out their inability to benefit from funds set aside by the Kibaki government for the disabled because of their unique condition. He said that unlike people with other forms of disabilities who could secure jobs as lecturers or lawyers, the mentally disable could not venture in gainful employment due to their condition.
“In situations where they do vocations, they must rely on the support of other people without disabilities. Without this support, it is difficult for them to realize reasonable stock and income,” Mr Moi observed.
As a result, people with disabilities need daily support throughout their lives, he added. “Lack of this important support has brought suffering to mothers who are forced to hide, chain and neglect their children,” he lamented. Flanked by officials of the Society for the Mentally Handicapped, the retired president underscored the importance of carers who spend their days and nights looking after the mentally disabled. This besides the therapeutic support the mentally disabled persons required to make their conditions manageable.
Mr Moi said the proposed Fund, to be managed by the Society’s trustees, will provide and sustain the services of the carers and the very essential therapeutic support to the mentally disabled. Those in the Society’s trustees include retired Catholic archbishop Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) chairman Abdulghafur El Busaidy and former nominated MP Zipporah Kittony among others. Mr Moi said the charity walk will start at 9 am on Moi Day at the society’s headquarters to Museum Hill roundabout and back to the headquarters.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/662942/-/item/0/-/uldhmdz/-/index.html
Posted by jicafriends at 10:38 AM | Comments (3)
September 26, 2009
Good news from Shalika - Sri Lanka
We received a following progress report from Ms. Shalika Karunaratne, a participant of Leaders’ course 2006. It took three years for her to implement her project plan. She now works with Mr. Wijesinghe who supports her to start the project. We firmly believe that it could be done because of Shalika’s tireless efforts and never-give-up spirit. Congratulations! Shalika!
Lochana
An income generating project
for unemployed vision impaired women
This project aims at Promoting employment of persons with visual disabilities for sustainability and self-worth. Mr. Piyadasa Wijesinghe who lost his sight during the bomb blast in January 1996 while he was working at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka as its videographer, has volunteered to train five women with visual disabilities in creating products with recycled paper. Through his own generosity, he provides paper for recycling, gum and tools. Mr. Wijesinghe instructs five women with visual disabilities on how to recycle paper and produce marketable items using their own creativity. Of the five, two are low visioned. Three hour training sessions take place weekly and the trainees have shown great enthusiasm. With their eagerness to learn the trade, Mr. Piyadasa says that they will master the craft by the end of the ten sessioned project.
Shalika Karunaratne
Participant - Leadership Development Course 2006
Member - Executive Committee
Sri Lanka Council for the Blind
Posted by jicafriends at 11:07 PM | Comments (0)
September 24, 2009
Report from Sangita - Nepal
Dear JICA friends!
All the lovely images are staying in my mind, and I miss TIC a lot. I realized my great responsibility and duties for others PWDS of Nepal which I learnt and saw in Japan by practically. Really I had wake up insidely the real activities of PWDS in Japan.
Now our activities is being a model and creative in the reference of my country Nepal. After came back from Japan I struggling here are a lot of NGOs for children and some are for just limit in general awareness & human rights not mentioned for livelihood PWDS,. Now our participants are doing different kinds of activities in own workshop. In future I have a next big dream to establish a rehabilitation centre for Disabled women in Nepal as soon as possible. Many more people is exited so much by our activities. Knitting industry is interested to give order for this kind of women with knitting materials.
.I was failure in the past moment because of lack of clear idea and social knowledge to do run NGO about action plan, good proposal etc. But now when I learnt more and recognized importance of the guideline practically acquired by this JICA training. It was a big achievement and impact for me. I look forward in coming future to go ahead together in co-operation with JICA office. We would like to request join your hands with us. Now I am feeling I am not alone STAYING with JICA.
I have put some pictures activities of disabled & needy women given below:
Posted by jicafriends at 01:33 PM | Comments (0)
Employers of Disabled to Get Tax Cuts-Uganda
We found the following good news related employment promotion of persons with disabilities in Uganda. It was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Catherine Bekunda and Joyce Namutebi
20 September 2009
Kampala — PARLIAMENT has reduced the amount of tax payable by private employers who hire 10 or more persons with disabilities from 15 to 2 per cent. MPs noted that disabled persons have been taken advantage of by employers for tax benefits.
The MPs made the observation while discussing a report on the amendments to the Income Tax Bill 2009 presented by the finance committee chairperson, Kabondo Tindamanyire (NRM) on Thursday.
"By employing 10 persons with disabilities, they (employers) have claimed billions of shillings," shadow finance minister Okello Oduman (FDC) said. He was reacting to the Income Tax Bill amendments presented by finance minister Syda Bbumba in June.
Companies that employ persons with disabilities have been enjoying a 15 percent tax waiver on their income.
Oduman proposed that the Government sets up cottage and roadside investments as an incentive to empower disabled persons.
Rubaga South MP Betty Kamya (FDC) appealed for better opportunities for persons with disabilities and called for the proper utilisation of funds meant for them.
Several MPs expressed concern that many firms were employing persons with disabilities as tea girls, sweepers and messengers, arguing that they (the companies) were not spending as much as they were benefiting from the exemption.
Bbumba agreed to the recommendation and said the Government will set up a disability fund this year from which each district will receive sh30m for disabled persons.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200909210602.html
Posted by jicafriends at 11:14 AM | Comments (0)
September 18, 2009
Training Report : July 8, 2009 PM : Cocoron (Local visit: day 4)
After lunch five participants moved to Izumizaki village where Cocoron, a living support center for persons with mental disability is located.
Director of Cocoron explained about the facilities and activities as follows;
Cocoron was established in Izumizaki village in Fukushima Prefecture in March in 2004 as the center to support living of persons with mental disability in the community. At that time there were very few facilities which are unable to cover the area of population with 150,000 in the southern part of Fukushima Prefecture. The name “Cocoron” was selected from the public. Two years prior to the establishment of Cocoron NPO was set up with people from different field including a medical doctor of mental illness for the preparation of the formation of the center to support people with mental disability who return to the society. It started from counseling service for persons with mental disability and their family members who have had difficulty in the community. People with mental disability need a place to get counseling service anytime, and people’s understanding. Then they may feel release and security. Based on such needs, Cocoron aims to support the community as a whole so that people with and without disability can live with security. With the support of Fukushima Prefecture Cocoron organized the workshop on community building and networking, inviting a resource person outside of the village.
After that five participants were invited to present their job reports to the members of Cocoron. Many questions and comments were given to them and the members could learn about the employment situations of persons with disabilities in participants' countries.
At night a welcome party was held at Cocoron and more than 60 people including Mayor and workers of Izumizaki village and supporters in the community came to see and talk to JICA participants. A lot of foods and drinks were prepared by supporters and laid out on the table. Participants could have a lively conversation with community people. It was a wonderful and memorable night!
http://jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2009/training/v0708pm.html
Posted by jicafriends at 10:24 PM | Comments (0)
Training Report : July 8, 2009 : Samegawa Tampopo-no-ie (Local visit: day 4)
In the morning five participants went to “Madeiniya,” Udon noodle shop, which is managed by Tampopo-no-ie and located in the corner of the big shopping mall ground. Users of Tampopo-no-ie work there as serving staff.
At first Director asked them their impression of Tampopo-no-ie. Most of the participants gave her positive feedbacks. In Tokyo they had opportunities to learn the measures and policies for employment promotion of persons with disabilities and they also had chances to visit facilities for vocational rehabilitation and companies where persons with disabilities were employed, however it seemed hard for them to adapt the systems and methods to their work places in home countries.
On the contrary the lectures and observations at Tampopo-no-ie were very meaningful and useful to them. Since it is located in the remote area surrounded by the mountains and there aren't any big companies where persons with disabilities are able to work, the environment is quite similar to the ones in their home countries. They had confidence in creating the work places for persons with disabilities if they could make tireless efforts. JICA participants could get many keys to success from the Tampopo-no-ie activities.
Before leaving five participants enjoyed Madeiniya noodles and understood why Tampopo-no-ie can sell noodles very well. Because Very oishii!
http://jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2009/training/v0708.html
Posted by jicafriends at 10:20 PM | Comments (0)
Mr. Javed Abidi shortlisted for the Guardian Achievements
Mr. Javed Abidi, Honorary Director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), and a former participant of Leaders' Course 1995 has been shortlisted for the Guardian Achievements in International Development Award 2009.
The award is aimed at recognizing some of the unsung heroes of international development and to share the outstanding stories of local successes with a global audience.
What is even more exciting is that Mr. Abidi has made it to the top 5 from 95 other nominations from around the world. He is the only nominee in the top 5 from the disability sector, worldwide.
The winner will now be decided through public voting which will take place between 7 - 30 September 2009.
In his 17 years of work in the sector he has been developing his vision, courage, conviction and integrity. It is time now to take this vision even further, and time to get the stories of persons with disability heard by the world.
Please go to the following link and cast your vote. And please spread the word around!
http://internationalachievementsaward.guardianprofessional.co.uk/judgesnomination/Index
On behalf of Disabled Peoples' International Asia Pacific (DPI/AP) we wish Mr Javed Abidi all the best.
Posted by jicafriends at 11:54 AM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2009
Youth: Festival Carries Voice of Young People-Fiji
One of the participants for Leadership Development 2009 is President of Youth Division of Fiji Disabled Peoples Association. We can learn more about the following festival from her and will report you on this webpage. The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Young people from around the Pacific gathered in Suva, Fiji, in July to discuss common issues affecting youth development throughout the region. The 2nd Pacific Youth Festival brought together 300 young people from 13 Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs).
During the weeklong festival they discussed issues centred around four main themes: promoting healthy living; Pacific identity; climate change adaptation; and governance, peace and security.
The festival programme included a daily schedule of presentations, panel discussions, workshops and training sessions culminating in evening cultural performances by the different delegations, and other forms of artistic and sports entertainment. Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Youth Adviser Rose Maebiru says the festival is an opportunity to work with young people directly
and to help build their capacity and knowledge. “For organisations like SPC, the Pacific Youth Festival provides an important opportunity to create networks with civil society organisations working in the area of youth development in order to strengthen our collective responses and improve the programmes we offer to young people.
“As a regional organisation that works in the area of youth development, it is our responsibility to assist young people from our member countries and territories by facilitating regional gatherings
that benefit them.’
She says the Suva festival was successful thanks to the young people themselves, with their engagement in the issues, their enthusiasm to learn and to explore different solutions, and the wealth of ideas they contributed to the discussions.
Networking: “For many participants one of the most important aspects of the festival was the opportunity to develop networks and partnerships with other young people from around the region,” Maebiru says.
At the end of the festival, participants drafted an official declaration highlighting the outcomes of the week-long discussions including key concerns and recommendations.
The declaration is addressed to governments, development agencies, non-governmental and civil society organisations, local communities and young people throughout the region.
The declaration acknowledges the regional and international commitments that have addressed youth development such as the Pacific Youth Strategy 2010 (PYS2010), which is a regional framework for youth development in the Pacific, and the Millennium Development Goals.
It acknowledges certain significant achievements since the first festival; however, it also highlights many of the challenges that remain.
These include certain cross-cutting issues such as young people’s lack of employment skills; the lack of opportunities for them to develop the skills, including self-esteem, that are necessary to confront the challenges of adolescence and young adulthood; and violence and discrimination, particularly against women, children, people with disabilities and sexual minorities.
In the area of health, the lack of policy as well as professional support facilities and services with regard to issues such as mental health and suicide were some of the concerns highlighted for urgent action.
In the area of Pacific identities, there were concerns, for example, about the loss of traditional values on the one hand, and on the other hand the lack of acknowledgement of the impact of more recent urban culture on young people’s sense of identity. In the area of climate change, some of the challenges highlighted included the limited awareness regarding this major global issue and its impacts as well as an unwillingness to change non-environmentally friendly attitudes.
Some of the main issues in the area of governance, peace and security included obstacles to active and effective youth participation at national, institutional and local levels such as lack of resources, negative attitudes toward supporting youth and women’s political participation and decision-making, and political instability.
Delegates from the following islandions s natattended the festival: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna. Student delegations from French Polynesia and New Caledonia also travelled to the festival. Selection of the next host country will take place at a Youth
Ministers meeting next year in Auckland.
http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=18864/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl
Posted by jicafriends at 04:15 PM | Comments (0)
September 15, 2009
Training Report : July 7, 2009 : Samegawa Tampopo-no-ie (Local visit 3)
Today five participants left the hotel early in the morning to observe an actual work site of the users of Tampopo-no-ie, the small workshop for making Udon noodles. Before the observation they were requested to put white uniforms, caps and masks on for hygiene control. Users were so skillful that it's difficult for participants to distinguish the users from the staff. They learned that persons with intellectual disabilities could be workforce when the working environment was properly arranged.
Before lunch participants visited Samegawa Village Office to make a courtesy call on Village Mayor. Deputy Mayor and Chief of Welfare Section also attended the meeting.
Outline of the village as well as five-year welfare plan were explained by Deputy Mayor. Participants asked many questions about welfare system and services for persons with disabilities in Samegawa Village.
According to Deputy Mayor Samegawa village has population of 4,218 and among those there are 216 persons with physical disabilities, 11 with mental disabilities, and 53 with intellectual disabilities. Most of persons with intellectual disabilities are users of Tampopo-no-ie, and Mayor of the village showed his appreciation to Director of Tampopo-no-ie.
After lunch participants joined the field work, digging potatoes with users. Tampopo has just finished ingathering pumpkins for producing Shochu, distilled spirits. Everyone enjoyed working outside and satisfied their harvests. Two participants from Nepal experienced indoor-work, making paper carrier-bag together with users.
All JICA participants were impressed by the users' productivity and accuracy.
On the way back to the hotel they stopped over at the hydroponically-cultivated tomato farm. Then there they found out wheelchair users can work in the farm.
http://jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2009/training/v0707.html
Posted by jicafriends at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)
September 14, 2009
Report from JICA Volunteer-Bhutan
We received the following happy news from a JICA Volunteer in Bhutan.
Thimphu, the capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan is now in the middle of rainy season and it rains like cats and dogs everyday.
I am pleased to inform you that we could finally open the bakery shop in July. The shop is operated by Drak-Tsho Vocational Training Centre for Disabled, the vocational school I was dispatched. I have been teaching 6 persons with disabilities (3 persons with hearing impairments, 2 with intellectual disabilities, 1 with physical disorder) and 6 persons without disabilities for 6 months. They sell 20 kinds of breads and 10 kinds of cakes at the shop.
Many people attended the opening ceremony including Director of JICA Bhutan Office, government officials, and journalists. Not only because we were interviewed by newspapers and received local TV coverage, but also it is the first work place for persons with disabilities in Bhutan, we could sell our products more than we expected and we could make profits last month. To accelerate the sales growth, I would like to continue teaching how to control quality of products to my students.
Posted by jicafriends at 09:03 PM | Comments (0)
September 03, 2009
The Power of Silence - Deaflympics in Taiwan
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
1 September, 2009 Taiwan Review
The Power of Silence
Chang Yao-chien was a member of the Taiwan women's bowling team that won gold medals at the 2005 Melbourne Deaflympics. (Photo by Huang Chung-hsin)
Publication Date：09/01/2009
Byline：KELLY HER
The 2009 Summer Deaflympics put Taipei and deaf athletes in the spotlight, showcasing their intrepid spirit in meeting the challenges of competition.
Chao Yu-ping, secretary-general of the Chinese Taipei Sports Association of the Deaf (CTSAD), will never forget the moment that made he and other delegates--including Chi Cheng, Taiwan's 1968 Olympic bronze medalist and honorary president of the Chinese Taipei Track and Field Association--burst into tears of joy. It was the afternoon of February 28, 2003 in Sweden when the 38th Congress of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) declared Chinese Taipei as the host for the 2009 Summer Deaflympics after beating out rival Athens, Greece by a vote of 52 to 32.
The Chinese Taipei delegation was exhilarated when Taiwan was awarded the right to host an Olympic-level international competition. Most significant of all, the winning bid ensured that the Deaflympics would take place in Asia for the first time since the games debuted as the International Silent Games in 1924, the first international sporting event for athletes with a disability. The Deaflympics are scheduled to run in Taipei from September 5 to September 15.
http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=59733&CtNode=119
Posted by jicafriends at 03:52 PM | Comments (0)