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January 27, 2010
Training Report : November 12, 2009: Regional Training (Day 5)
64 years ago, Hiroshima suffered the world's first atomic bombing. To prevent repetition of such tragedy, the city has sought ever since to covey the facts of the bombing to the world. Website of the City of Hiroshima:
http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/shimin/heiwa/peaceenglish.html
Hundreds of thousands of people were exposed to the A-Bomb in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Despite the tragedy of mankind, innumerable people were still injured or lost their precious lives because of wars or conflicts all over the world. To learn “Disability and War/Conflict,” nine participants visited Hiroshima and today they came to observe the Peace Memorial Museum located inside the Peace Memorial Park.
In the museum participants were guided and received the explanation by three Peace Volunteers who belong to the museum.
They first showed participants the deformed objects such as bottles and roof tiles, melted by the strong heat of the atomic bomb.
Not only participants with visual impairment but others were also allowed to touch them so that they could feel the power of A-bomb.
Then they were divided into three groups to tour the museum. It took them to three hours to see both inside and outside of the museum.
However it was a valuable opportunity for all the participants to think deeply about importance of peace and they all resolved not to possess any nuclear weapons in respective countries.
Story of Sadako: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadako_Sasaki
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2009/training/l1112.html
Posted by jicafriends at 03:07 PM | Comments (0)
January 26, 2010
Japanese Medical Experts Help Victims at the Epicenter of Haiti’s Earthquake
We found the following news on JICA website, however we haven't heard of any news about persons/children with disabilities at epicenter in Haiti. We pray for their safety and will try to get information about them.
http://www.jica.go.jp/english/news/field/2009/20100120_01.html
A Japanese emergency medical team is working around the clock at the very epicenter of the earthquake which rocked Haiti last week causing tens of thousands of deaths and leaving many more as hapless victims.
The 25-strong team from the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) system is working in the rubble of the town of Leogane, several miles from the capital of Port au Prince, and which was at the very heart of the tremor.
The United Nations said that between 80-90 % of the town, which had a population of 134,000 before the disaster, was in ruins.
Because of the very scale of the disaster, many survivors have still not received any of the aid or assistance arriving daily from around the world, even in the capital and particularly in outlying areas such as Leogane.
The Japanese team was among the first group of helpers to arrive in the town and very virtually overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster.
As soon as they established their medical center, the doctors, nurses and other experts were inundated with townspeople seeking help for multiple types of injuries and team members have been working literally 24 hours a day since then.
The team is expected to stay in Haiti about one week.
A second medical team from the non governmental organization Medecins Sans Frontiere were scheduled to join the Japanese team shortly.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who is the key operator of the JDR system under the management of the Japanese Government, also sent emergency supplies including tents, blankets, plastic sheeting, sleeping bags and water purifiers to Port au Prince from its main regional warehouse in Miami.
Posted by jicafriends at 03:37 PM | Comments (0)
January 25, 2010
Training Report : November 6, 2009 PM: Lecture: History and Current Situation of the Movement of the Deaf in Japan
Participants left Tokyo Metropolitan Support Center for the Deafblind for JICA Tokyo to have an afternoon lecture by advisor of Japan Federation of the Deaf.
To break the ice, the lecturer began his lecture with a joke. He first briefly explained about the main activities, major events, and achievements of the movement made by the Japan Federation of the Deaf.
Then he emphasized the biggest problem which persons with hearing impairment have been facing for long time is “communication” with other persons. Therefore, he's been working very hard over 30 years, to promote the training of sign language interpreter, and to expand awareness of importance of sign language interpreters in the society.
He concluded that sign language interpreters are not only for persons with hearing impairment, but they help persons without hearing impairment to communicate with persons with hearing impairment.
Participant asked many questions to the lecturer including how to master sign language, how persons with hearing impairment acquire the driver's license, and how to convince TV stations to provide caption and sign language interpretation services.
Some of the participants had a strong impression that Japanese persons with disabilities are very lucky since they're well taken care by the government, however, they realized through his lecture that the present situation of persons with disabilities in Japan was the result of long-term movements by persons with disabilities.
Participants were empowered a lot by the lecturer and they strongly felt that they could also get the same result in their countries if they worked hard like him.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2009/training/l1106pm.html
Posted by jicafriends at 09:16 PM | Comments (0)
United Voice January Newsletter 2010
Dear jicafriends,
For United Voice latest updates, please read our latest newsletter at http://www.unitedvoice.com.my/newsletter/2010JanNewsletter.pdf
Thank you for your support.
Best Regards,
Committee and Staff of United Voice
www.unitedvoice.com.my
Posted by jicafriends at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)
January 21, 2010
Training on Disability, Gender and Development-APCD
Women with disabilities face same challenges other women face in their respective communities or countries, such as gender-based discrimination. They are also confronted by other difficulties caused by attitudinal, physical and institutional barriers against their impairments. As is widely documented, persons with disabilities (PWDs) are often among the poor population, regardless of the development stage of the nation, and women with disabilities, in particular, tend to be overrepresented among persons living in poverty.
Many of the challenges women with disabilities face, however, are experienced by men with disabilities and non-disabled women. There is a need to share concern and responsibility with men with disabilities as well as non-disabled women and men. Working together will bring about positive impacts and power to change the situation. It is, therefore, crucial to find a positive approach which emphasizes collaboration, mutual respect and supportive attitude.
Through the training, the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) aims to promote collaboration among women and men with disabilities as well as non-disabled persons, focusing on the gender equality and adopting a cross-disability approach.
Essential Facts
Course Title: Training on Disability, Gender and Development
Duration: 8th - 20th March 2010
Deadline for Application: 29th January 2010 at 15.00
* Application forms http://www.apcdfoundationt.org
<http://www.apcdfoundationt.org> must be submitted to the APCD by the deadline.
Countries Invited & Participants: Two (2) participants per country (one of whom must be a woman) from the ASEAN member countries will be selected by APCD (in total, 20 persons):
1) Brunei Darussalam*
2) Cambodia
3) Indonesia
4) Laos
5) Malaysia
6) Myanmar
7) Philippines
8) Singapore*
9) Thailand
10) Viet Nam
Women with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.
* Participants from Brunei Darussalam and Singapore are asked to cover total or partial expenses for their participation.
Language: English
Target Group: Representatives of self-help groups/organizations who currently are or planning to be engaged in the activities to promote gender equality in their activities. The participants must be persons with disabilities.
Course Objectives
1) Persons with disabilities from the ASEAN member countries will strengthen their understanding on an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society where both women and men with disabilities can be equal partners as their non-disabled peers.
2) The training participants will develop action plans which outline their individual and organizational actions to meet the challenges of promoting gender equality in Self-Help Groups/Organizations and their activities.
Training Venue
Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability
255, Rajvithi Road, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: 66-2-3547505 ; Fax: 66-2-3547507
E-mail : training@apcdfoundation.org
Accommodation: Same as above
Posted by jicafriends at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
January 20, 2010
Training Report : November 11, 2009: Regional Training (Day 4) - Move to Hiroshima
Participants said “good bye” to Hamamatsu city and moved to Hiroshima by Shinkansen in the morning.
After three-hour train trip they arrived at Hiroshima station. A red sightseeing bus equipped with a lift was waiting for them there to take them to Miyajima ferry landing.
It was a bit chilly and windy day, however participants got excited about visiting Itsukushima Shrine, the sightseeing spot where barrier-free/accessible tourism was promoted.
This shrine a designated national treasure, was built in the architectural style of the Heian period in 593. Later, in 1168, it was rebuild in its current beautiful form. It was selected as one of three beautiful sceneries in Japan and Japanese would love to visit once in a lifetime.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3450.html
The world heritage was remodelled and had ramps to enable wheelchair users come into the shrine. Therefore not only persons with disabilities but also elderly people can easily participate in a tour.
JICA participants were all enjoyed barrier-free sightseeing. and could get ideas how to start barrier-free tourism in respective countries.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2009/training/l1111.html
Posted by jicafriends at 03:28 PM | Comments (0)
Haiti’s ’Shunned’ Disabled Kids Cope With Loss of Their School
The following news was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Susan Nelson’s emotions run from relief to fear as she wonders about the 170 disabled children at a Haitian school where she volunteers.
The Memphis, Tennessee, doctor left Haiti in December after spending part of the month at St. Vincent’s School for Handicapped Children, in Port-au-Prince, the capital. Her initial fears lifted when she learned that a Jan. 12 earthquake that killed more than 100,000 people in Haiti spared most of the kids. Their future is what frightens her now.
“What is happening to my friend Frenel, the six-year-old blind boy who sang to me while I bandaged a cut on his head?” Nelson, a 50-year-old family practitioner, said in an e-mail yesterday. “What about Judith who has the biggest smile and sweetest face? She only weighs 70 lbs at age 12. What is she getting to eat?”
Six children and staff members died at the school when the ”boy’s foyer,” a residential section, collapsed, said Leon Sadoni, the Episcopal-run school’s head priest, in an e-mail yesterday. The survivors are living in a tent city in an empty lot where they used to play soccer. They are under the protection of Zache Duracin, the Episcopal bishop of Haiti.
Church officials are trying to move the pupils to Montrois, a city north of Port-au-Prince, to house them temporarily in a former Episcopal seminary, Sadoni said. The Rev. Lauren Stanley, Episcopal missionary to Haiti, said by telephone today from New York that Duracin confirmed the information provided by Sadoni.
“The urgent now is to feed them,” Sadoni wrote. “And we don’t have any materials (cloths, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap).”
‘Very Scary’
Even then, the struggle is far from over, Nelson said.
“Most of the kids there are in wheelchairs, blind or deaf, and much of the staff is handicapped, too,” she said in a telephone interview last week. “But it’s not just the physical problems. Handicapped children are also shunned by society there. It is really very scary.”
St. Vincent’s is the only school in Haiti for disabled children, said Nelson and Kenneth Quigley, program director for the Episcopal Church Foundation in New York. The school was founded in 1947 by the Sisters of St. Margaret, a religious order, and is an institution of the Episcopal
Diocese of Haiti, Quigley said in an e-mail today.
Before the quake, St. Vincent’s had one of Port-au-Prince’s better-equipped health facilities, which included its own clean water source and a new operating room, Nelson said. Everything left inside the school was stolen after the quake, Sadoni said. People took materials from the pharmacy and the operating room as well as food, Sadoni wrote.
The president of the church-sponsored Children’s Medical Mission of Haiti, Bill Squire, traveled to Haiti on Jan. 16 to deliver money and find ways the American group can help. Quigley said the Episcopal Church is waiting for an update from Squire to determine how to respond.
Remembering Names
Nelson volunteers with that mission was one of a group of 15 people who visited the school last month. She has traveled to the school four times over the past couple of years and brought her 17-year-old daughter, Sienna, along the last time. Sienna had photographed each child, saying “she wanted to remember the kids and their names, rather than just ‘the kid with one leg or the kid with no hands,’” Nelson said.
For two days after the initial news reports about the quake, a scrapbook containing the pictures sat unopened on Nelson’s coffee table. She had feared for the student’s lives after hearing that the presidential palace and the city’s largest Episcopal church, both within blocks of the school, had collapsed. One news report said St. Vincent’s had been leveled.
“The photo album has been a treasure to all of us for many weeks,” Nelson said. “ When we got the news the school had been destroyed, I unable to look at it. I could not stand to look at the faces of the children who might be injured or even dead.
'No Hope’
“We figured there was no hope,” she said. In December, the doctors found that “most people were drinking water from the same source as the bathrooms, and a lot of people were already sleeping in the streets,” she said. The earthquake left thousands more homeless.
When she received confirmation in an e-mail from Sadoni about survivors, she and Sienna finally decided to look through the photographs.
“That night my daughter and I sat with the photo album, turning the pages and looking at each face and name with joy and relief,” Nelson said. Now, she wants to return soon to Haiti to do what she can to help.
“I want to put myself on a magic helicopter and land on that soccer field in Port-au-Prince,” Nelson said.
--Editors: Andrew Pollack, Robert Greene
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-19/haiti-s-shunned-disabled-kids-cope-with-loss-of-their-school.html
Posted by jicafriends at 11:11 AM | Comments (0)
January 19, 2010
Training Report : November 10, 2009: Regional Training (Day 3) - WITH in Hamamatsu
Today was the second day in Hamamatsu.
Before leaving the hotel participants together with a committee member did the wrap up session at the lobby of the hotel.
In the morning chairperson of Rokusei Welfare Corporation showed nine participants to the WITH Shijimizuka, community workshop for the elderly with visual impairment. When they arrived there members were singing Japanese songs along with the piano, and of course after introducing themselves participants joined and presented their national songs. WITH Shijimizuka became like a international salon.
By accident a baker with severe disability visited WITH to sell his cookies and cakes. Participants were impressed to see that he drove a car and sold home baked cookies and cakes by himself. He explained them how he started his business and how to make living now.
In the afternoon the piano master, who was the last student of Japanese famous Koto (Japanese harp), master Michio Miyagi, kindly brought Japanese traditional instruments to WITH. The Koto, Shamisen (a three-stringed instrument similar to a banjo) and Shakuhachi (five-holed Japanese bamboo clarinet) were demonstrated by him. This gives participants a chance to learn something about the traditional music and culture of Japan.
At the end of the training program at WITH chairperson gave a brief explanation on the history of small-scale community workshops, and then he summarized points of two-days programs at WITH. He emphasized the importance of “full participation and equality” which was the theme of International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981 as well as the motto of WITH.
In order to realize that a small scale community workshop like WITH is essential.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2009/training/l1110.html
Posted by jicafriends at 07:54 PM | Comments (0)
5th International Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD)
Dear jicafriends,
We need your assistance to recruit the next generation of WILD women!
Please disseminate the information below and encourage women leaders with disabilities in your community to apply! Applications are available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. Application deadline is March 1, 2010!
Thank you!
- MIUSA Exchange Team
Mobility International USA's (MIUSA)
5th International Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD)
To be held: August 6 - 29, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon, U.S.A.
Application deadline: March 1, 2010
Who Can Apply
Emerging and established women leaders with disabilities from around the world who demonstrate:
Personal experience with disability, an understanding of issues, and a commitment to working for the rights of women and girls with disabilities
Membership in an organization led by and for people with disabilities, or by and for women, with particular attention to issues of women and girls with disabilities; or employment in a business or program committed to inclusion of women and girls with disabilities
Commitment to and capacity for increasing leadership opportunities and employment of women with disabilities in the community and/or country
Download the application at: http://www.miusa.org/newsitems/wildnews
Application materials are available in alternative formats upon request.
About the Program
MIUSA's Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) will bring together approximately 25 women leaders with disabilities to strengthen leadership skills, create new visions and build international networks of support.
During the 3-week program, participants will take part in workshops and discussions, con duct on-site visits, and participate in team-building activities, to explore challenges and exchange strategies for increasing leadership opportunities and employment of women and girls with disabilities internationally.
Program activities will focus on priority issues for women with disabilities, including:
Leadership for economic empowerment
Educational rights and opportunities
Career planning and higher education
Employment strategies
Health and family issues
Using the media and coalition building
Organizational development and sustainability
Inclusive international development programs
Cultural and team-building
Mentorship and networking
Goals and action plans
Language
The official languages of WILD are English and American Sign Language (ASL). Arabic, French and Spanish language interpreters will be provided based on need of the selected delegation.
Program Cost
Total cost is USD$250 - Includes all travel, airfare, food, lodging and program costs. Scholarships are available.
For additional information contact:
Mobility International USA
WILD 2010
http://www.miusa.org/newsitems/wildnews
Since 1981, MIUSA has been pioneering short-term international exchange programs for people with and without disabilities from over 100 countries. As a non-profit organization, MIUSA is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities around the world to achieve their human rights through international exchange and international development.
Posted by jicafriends at 05:09 PM | Comments (0)
Earthquake in Haiti
The January 12, 2010, Haiti earthquake occurred in the boundary region separating the Caribbean plate and the North America plate. It struck southern Haiti, knocking down buildings and power lines. Several eyewitnesses reported heavy damage and bodies in the streets of the capital, Port-au-Prince, where concrete-block homes line steep hillsides. There was no estimate of the dead and wounded yet.
We are very much concerned about the persons with disabilities in Haiti, and also worried about those who are suffering from their impairment, disabilities caused by the earthquake.
We express our heartfelt sympathy to our friends in Haiti.
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 02:18 PM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2010
Training Report : November 6, 2009 AM: Visit: Tokyo Metropolitan Support Center for the Deafblind
Participants had an opportunity to visit Tokyo Metropolitan Support Center for the Deafblind.
Deafblinds are those who have impairment in both hearing and vision. There are many patterns to what is called deafblind: a totally deafblind is one who cannot hear or see a thing; “blind and hard of hearing” are those who cannot see anything and have limited hearing; “deaf and low vision” includes those who cannot hear anything and cannot see very well, etc.
Three board members, all deafblinds, kindly came to the center to talk about their personal histories including daily lives, the conditions of disabilities and the purpose of their lives.
Interpreter/personal assistants are able to communicate with deafblinds with finger Braille, tactile sign language, or by verbal language according to the conditions of disabilities. Each board member brought one or two interpreter/personal assistances on that day.
When the board members “listened,” all three were interpreted by finger Braille through interpreters. However, when they “spoke”, one of them used sign language and two others used verbal language mainly, slightly using finger Braille through interpreters.
Participants observed those communications with a curious eye. It was amazing that there were various types of communication skills of the deafblind and those were used according to conditions of disability.
After listening three board member's speeches, participants had a chance to talk with them through interaction among individual. Participants asked how they learned those communications skills, how they managed household tasks such as cooking or doing the laundry, about marriage, and so on. Various questions relating to interpreter/personal assistance were also asked such as expenses for dispatch, roles of assistance, training and license to become assistance. Board members asked questions back to the participants about the situation of the deafblind in participants' countries.
Both participants and board members enjoyed interaction.
It was the first time for most of participants to meet the deafblind. Participants were deeply impressed to know that the deafblind fully enjoyed their own lives in spite of their difficulties in communication.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2009/training/l1106.html
Posted by jicafriends at 09:32 PM | Comments (0)
January 13, 2010
Report form Alphonse-Saint Lucia
Greetings to all,
Konnichiwa!
Let me first start by saying I am so sorry for takeing so long to keep in touch, as I needed to put the jaws program on my laptop to give me access to be able to email you.
I am very much happy in the way in which all of you took care of us back during our stay in Japan,
once again I am so thankful for that.
In that of my project plan I have since met with the dirrector for the organisation for person with disabilities introducing the project to her, she is happy of the idea and is willing to support me all the way, and she is also very possitive about it and think that it can get off the ground.
This coming Thursday I will be meeting with the JICA officer to discuss the posibility of funding the
project wish me all the luck on that. Please send out my regards to all staff, over and out for now looking forward in hearing from you soon.
Alphonse (Leadership Course 2009)
Posted by jicafriends at 09:48 AM | Comments (0)
January 08, 2010
Interview with the Author of “Nothing About Us Without Us”, Mr. David Werner
Working for community based health program in the mountains of western Mexico from 1965 as health worker. A strong advocate for inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in the community and a person with a disability himself, Mr. Werner has worked in more than 50 countries as a CBR consultant. His renowned books “Nothing About Us Without Us” and “Disabled Village Children” become perennial bestsellers.
When Mr. Werner visited Japan in October, 2009, the secretariat of DINF, Disability Information Resources, had a chance to interview with him.
You can access the interview
http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/global/david/091026_seminar/david_warner_en.html
Posted by jicafriends at 03:44 PM | Comments (0)
Report from Atif - Pakistan
Dear jica friends,
I pleased to share with you the press clip from Daily Dawn related to the DET (Disability Equality Training) conducted by STEP at Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad. Please find the attachment.
Regards
Atif
Press_on_Disability_06-01-2010 (PDF file 69KB)
--
Muhammad Atif Sheikh
President
Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP)
Posted by jicafriends at 11:58 AM | Comments (0)
The Meeting of CBR AP Network-Bangkok, Thailand
Dear JICA friends,
I would like to report on the meeting of CBR AP Network held from December 14 to 16, 2009 at APCD(Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disaiblity) , Bangkok, Thailand.
This network was established as the result of the 1st CBR AP Congress held in February 2009 in Bangkok.
At the meeting in December the Constitution and the Plan of Action were adopted. The discussion was carried out by the group work so it worked well for the team building and enhancement of each one's ownersihp of the network. The vision of the network is "Inclusive Development" and "Inclusive Society." APCD provides support to the network as the secretariat.
The election of officers was also carried out. Nine persons were elected.
The future activities are; logo contest, collection of case studies, setting up of website in the website of APCD, the second CBR AP Congress.
When the website starts within the website of APCD, you will be informed.
Please pay attention to the CBR AP Network.
At the meeting in December, I met ex-JICA participants, Mr. Atif of Pakistan, Mr. Premadasa of Sri Lanka. I am pleased to know that they are acitve in their respective countries.
With Regards.
Etsuko Ueno,
Director, International Relations Division,
Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD)
eueno@dinf.ne.jp
FYI: APCD website
http://www.apcdfoundation.org/
Posted by jicafriends at 10:00 AM | Comments (0)
January 07, 2010
Protest Note-Bangladesh
Tuesday, 5, January, 2010
“Stop TV advertisement of Daily Kaler kanta that presents Visually Impaired people in an undignified presentation.”
A current advertisement produced by the Daily Kaler kanta which is daily newspaper uses the image of six visually impaired people touching an elephant in a lame attempt to convey bad journalism. What the add does convey is a shameful violation of human dignity.
The repeated viewing of this advertisement does great harm to visually impaired people by conveying the myth that visually impaired people are not capable of gathering all information nor of understanding the large issues of the day. These negative perceptions must stop now!
Visually Impaired people in Bangladesh face great barriers to getting jobs and economic independence without advertisements like the one produced by the daily paper. Visually Impaired people are far from the image portrayed by the advertisement, we are high level thinkers and planners. We are capable of running large organizations, arguing in courts of law and more than capable of leading governments.
The use of an ancient message about blindness to sell news papers is both shameful and incorrect whereas the media should fight for the rights of the disable persons. Today visually impaired people surf the internet, design software, walk independently have families and contribute to society.
We, the visually impaired of Chittagong demand that the add be removed from distribution or face future civil action
From,
Some Leaders with Visually Challenged in Chittagong , who are:
Mr. Vashkar Bhattacharjee, Rashed Chowdhury, Ahsan Ulla Sarkar, Liton Sree Nath, Ms. Hena Nurjahan, Monora Begum.
Posted by jicafriends at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)
January 06, 2010
Training Report : November 3, 2009: Visit: Sight World
What is Sight World?
This is the unprecedented and comprehensive event for persons with visual impairments which marks its 4th anniversary.
Visitors could see the exhibition of equipments with the most advanced technology and daily devices for persons with visual impairments.
Additionally, various seminars, forums, workshops and concerts were also held during three-day events.
Participants observed and tried those exhibits that utilize Induction Heating, Ultrasonic beam or the other technologies.
The prices of some of them are more than a million yen.
However, on the other hand, exhibits were not only those advanced devices, but also daily devices which had only small differences with ordinary devices such as notch, projections or Braille seals.
Those little ingenuities made devices useful for persons with visual impairments.
All participants were very surprised at the latest technologies and could know useful ideas of devices for persons with visual impairments.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2009/training/l1103.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:44 PM | Comments (0)
Training Report : November 9, 2009: Regional Training (Day 2) - WITH in Hamamatsu
In the morning nine participants visited WITH, small-scale community workshop for persons with visual impairments run by Rokusei Welfare Corporation. Not only JICA participants but three students from school for the blind and a student from regular junior high school also visited WITH as a part of their integrated study programs. To begin with, JICA participants, members of WITH, and students introduced themselves individually and then members welcomed visitors with songs.
After that chairperson explained why he established WITH in Hamamatsu city and what kinds of difficulties persons with visual impairments are facing in Japan.
Most of children with visual impairment spend their daily lives at the blind schools and they seldom have opportunities to communicate with other persons outside the schools. It discourages and prevents them from participating in the society.
Therefore WITH encourages and empowers them to go out and work together with other people without disabilities.
At lunch time Sri Lankan curry was prepared and as you could imagine easily a participant from Sri Lanka cried for that.
In the afternoon chairperson showed them how to make a white cane and how to provide the mobility training, then he explained the importance of using the white canes.
Participants learned so many things in a day, and they were all fully satisfied.
http://www.jicafriends.jp/leaders/gi2009/training/l1109.html
Posted by jicafriends at 05:29 PM | Comments (0)
INVITATION TO THE 7TH WORLD CONGRESS ON CHILD LABOUR 2010
7TH WORLD CONGRESS ON CHILD LABOUR 2010
Children are the fuel of life, without them there is no future.
Dear Friend
We cordially invite you to participate in the 7th World Congress, on child labour and Child exploitation. We are concerned about the position of children in countries where economic boom conditions has created an enormous demand for labour and particularly cheap labour, which children can provide. These and many other issues will be addressed in this forth coming conference.
The 7th World Congress, on child labour and Child exploitation is been organized by the International Child Welfare Organization (ICWO) supported by United Nation (UN) in collaboration with other NGO’s and our benevolent donors. The event takes place from 17th – 20th February 2010 in New York, U.S.A, and 23rd – 26th February 2010 in DAKAR-SENEGAL.
The second part of the conference in Senegal was fixed because Senegal has been the base, where traffickers, traffic children and mostly young girls into Europe, where about 5 to 6 thousand victims were rescued between January to October 2009.
If you are interested to participate and represent your country, you may contact the secretariat for details and more information. Below you will find the contact email address of the conference secretariat by email:
(conference_secretary2010@mynet.com)
You may get back to me via my email address below:
(emily.william@centrum.sk). Children are our future. Their future is in your hands.
Regards,
Ms. Emily William
Posted by jicafriends at 12:58 PM | Comments (0)
January 05, 2010
Special Talent Exchange Program Newsletter
Winter 2009
Welcome to the winter edition of the STEP newsletter. Click on the links below to find out about the latest developments and stories.If you do not wish to receive this email, please write unsubscribe and send to office@step.org.pk
Detail Story(https://www.opendrive.com/files/5920181_37t3g/Leaders-Dec-2009.pdf)
National Leadership Conference of Persons with disabilities
12th -14th August 2009
A declaration calling for the ratification of United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) was endorsed at the National Leadership Conference for Persons with Disabilities. Held at the National Institute for Special Education (NISE) from 12-14 Aug 2009, the conference was organized by Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) in partnership with Telenor Pakistan’s flagship corporate initiative “Khuddar Pakistan.” The conference witnessed an unprecedented attendance of 50 Disabled Persons Organizations, key leaders from the disability rights movement, state officials, disability advisors, volunteers as well as Telenor Pakistan management.
Wheel Chairs distributed among PWDs after the conference
Tricycles were distributed among 10 disabled participants with the help of Pakistan BaitulMal and of course the Managing Director Pakistan Bait ul Maal, Zamurd Khan who always supported us in our endeavors towards empowerment of the persons with disabilities.
Observance of White Cane Day & Launch of Video Documentary
“Beyond the Voice of Our Own”
The International White Cane Day 2009 held at Auditorium of Pakistan National Council of Arts was attended by about 500 people from all walks of life including representatives of disabled peoples organizations, development sector, government, universities and media.
A new Virtual Office
STEP has developed a new website http://www.step.org.pk/home with all the updated information about organization itself and other partner organizations. A network of DPOs from all over the country is visible on the website that is a great achievement by the STEP team. Various publications by STEP and other reading material is also uploaded on the website.
STEP joins "Facebook"
STEP has also developed a page on Facebook. All the latest updates about the events and news about the upcoming events can be viewed on this page. Furthermore, pictures and videos of all the events are also uploaded on the Facebook page.
Government announces special NICs for PWDs
New NICs for disabled persons have been issued by the government of Pakistan this year. This will help the persons with disability to avail some of the benefits that the state is offering for them in the form of discounts. Disabled persons can get 50% discount on their travel by train or by air simply by showing the ID card.
STEP as Disability Advisor to Telenor Pakistan
STEP is the first disability access audit firm in the country. We work with our clients to achieve the best and most cost effective solution in meeting their disability access needs. We performed the accessibility audit of the Central Headquarters of Telenor Pakistan in F-7 Islamabad. After the audit Telenor has made some major changes in the layout of their office which is now fully accessible for visually impaired persons as well as wheel chair users.
APCD mission on SBKM (Story Based Knowledge Management)
The "Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability" (APCD) Project is a technical cooperation project between the Government of Japan and the Government of Thailand, which is started in Bangkok on 1 August 2002. The Overall goal of the project is to promote the empowerment of people with disabilities and a barrier-free society in developing countries in the Asia and Pacific Region.
Training of Hearing and Visually Impaired Persons
The objective of the training was to reach a social as opposed to an individual model of disability, to demonstrate the practical application of equal opportunities policies for disabled people within the immediate area of work.
Inclusive Development Project in District Jehlum
The District Annual Review Workshop with Stakeholders was held in the last week of October 2009. The workshop was attended by the District Administration; partner CCBs, WOs, persons with disabilities and NGOs working in District Jhelum.
School by PWDs starts in Bangyal
The establishment of Bangyal Community School is a great achievement for STEP in a way that it is the first ever inclusive education school in Pakistan where all the normal as well as disabled students can get education. The school helps Rizwan and his sister to run their household. Furthermore, it also helps in the social uplift of the otherwise one of the most neglected villages of the country.
Editorial Message
STEP has been struggling for more than a decade to bring a change in the life of Persons With Disabilities. This issue of our Newsletter stands a witness to our unwitting commitment and utmost struggle in mainstreaming of PWDs in the society. We are thankful to all our partner organizations for their full support throughout these years.
We are always in the process of continuous improvement of our functions and services to the people. We believe in sharing knowledge and expertise with the people and organizations. With your help and support, we are now considered as one of the most delivering Disabled People’s Organization (DPO) of the country. We always look forward to your suggestions for further improvement.
Cheers!
“Leaders” Editorial Team
This newsletter has been issued with the support of Sight Savers International Pakistan
For more information visit our Website http://www.step.org.pk/
Posted by jicafriends at 05:14 PM | Comments (0)
Greetings from incoming Director General of JICA Tokyo
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol came into force on May 3, 2008. This Convention aims to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy all human rights on an equal basis with others. CRPD’s Article 32 specifically states the importance of international cooperation and its vital role in facilitating and supporting persons with disabilities.
With this in mind, one of JICA’s present challenges is to mainstream disability issues into its development aid program. In response to the changing times and for over 20 years, JICA Tokyo and the Japanese Society for the Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities (http://www.jsrpd.jp/static/english/out.html) have been conducting training courses, including Leadership Development and Employment Promotion for Persons with Disabilities.
To further strengthen and continue bonds and promote strong collaborations among previous participants and concerned organizations, JICA has created this website, JICA Friends, a network designed to provide relevant updates with regards to issues affecting persons with disabilities in Japan and overseas.
Because we are aware that struggles continue, JICA Friends hopes to serve as an inter-active forum where we can exchange views, offer advice and build a network to facilitate the implementation of successful projects here and at home countries. We hope that you will make the most use of this site so that together, we may be able to create a global society that recognizes, supports and promotes equal opportunities and equal human rights to a better life without barriers and without borders for all.
Posted by jicafriends at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)
JICA Report from Central Kalimantan
Dear jicafriends,
My name is Rony Teguh from the University of Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan Indonesia. I was given the opportunity by JICA to undertake training to build a mobile-based content learning for century. many things I learned in Japan. among others, Friendship, Beauty and Knowledge. As long as I was on the island kyusyu. I studied the manners and language of Japan other than my training focus is on the field of information technology.
I bring this story to my students at the university's in a friendship and knowledge between the two countries. while in the saga of the university, I met a good teacher and very well educated. prinsif this is what I bring to the university.
Now I have many friends in Japan especially for the field of information technology. PALANGKA highways and universities work together with universities to build cooperation hokaido human resources using distance learning.
Rony Teguh
JICA 2009
Posted by jicafriends at 10:01 AM | Comments (0)
Good news from Pakistan
Dear Freinds
There is a great news of 2010.
Pakistan International Air line is now offering 5o% discount to all national and international Destination for the disabled persons of Pakistan.
Cheers
Shafiq-ur-Rehman
President
Milestone
Lets Move to Change the Society
Posted by jicafriends at 09:25 AM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2010
Nepal Ratifies UN Disability Rights Convention, Reaffirming its Strong Support
Dear all,
Warm greetings from Nepal!
It's the matter of extreme pleasure to kindly inform you that Nepal
government has just on December 27, 2009 ratified the UNCRPD with its
Optional Protocal.
Please reade more,
RI_PressRelease_Ratification_template
Sincerely yours,
Ram Prasad Dhungana, Former participant of Vocational Rehab. Course 1997
President, NRCD Nepal and
National Secretary, RI Nepal.
Posted by jicafriends at 11:41 PM | Comments (0)
Ex-participants' report from Nepal!
Dearjicafriends
Greetings from Nepal!
At last day of the year 2009, I am sharing information regarding "Promotion and Rehabilitation of Decent works of Persons with Disabilities" which I participate last 16th June to August 1st 2009 in Japan as a JICA trainee. May be it is late to share but I did this task which I mention in the training period.
We are cheers in this time; Nepal ratified UNCRPD last 27th of December 2009 but still thinking implementation process.
I am trying for my action plan also may be I will write very soon for this case.
I am sending news and some picture which i took in sharing Program
At last HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010
Thank you
Kiran Shilpakar
Nepal
Note-Picture details
1. Ex participants same course from Nepal- (from Left to right)Mr.Kiran Shilpakar,Mr. Ram Prasd Dhungana,Ms. Sangeeta Panta,Ms. Rama Dhakal.Mr. Indra Prasad Upadhayay
2. Participants
3. Participants
4. VIPs Guest in Dias
5. VIPs Guest in Dias
6. Mr. Ragav Bir Joshi CA Member for remarks
7. participants
8. in the presentation Mr.Kiran Shilpakar
Posted by jicafriends at 10:34 PM | Comments (0)
A Happy New Year!
It is the beginning of a new year.
May the New Year turn out to be the happiest and the best for you.
Let us keep working towards the realization of "Society for All" together with all jicafriends of the world.
The secretariat of jicafriends
Posted by jicafriends at 05:04 PM | Comments (0)