Activities and Events
In this six-month period (January to June), SARO team has been actively involved in providing capacity building and technical support to partner organisations as detailed below -
- SARO staff (Programme Manager, Advocacy & Campaigns Manager) visited Dhaka Cheshire Home in Bangladesh. They also provided technical inputs on programme development to 15 partners of Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), who are implementing the DFID funded inclusive education programme of LCD in Bangladesh.
- During this period, LC Project in Nagapattinam (India) was supported in implementing a health programme funded by World Jewish Aid and also Cheshire Home, Jamshedpur (India) was supported in initiating a new project funded by TATA's (a leading corporate).
- SARO's Livelihoods Manager visited the project in Prakasam (India) and oriented staff on the assessment tool - “SHG Maturity Index”. The index was also field tested for better understanding.
Participations
- A disabled people's federation in Jharkhand (India) had taken the initiative to draft a state policy on disability for Jharkhand. Advocacy & Campaigns, Manager, SARO actively participated in drafting the state policy on inclusive education.
- Programme Manager, SARO, attended a workshop conducted by Handicap International in Nepal on Mainstreaming Disability in Disaster Risk Reduction programmes.
- Regional Representative, Programme Manager and Advocacy & Campaigns Manager attend the 1st WHO-CBR Congress, held in Bangkok and presented papers on disability and community based rehabilitation.
Quote from a beneficiary during evaluation
“The DRC is like “Food City” (a well-known grocery superstore in Sri Lanka) we can get so many things from there, almost everything a disabled person needs”.
| Assessing our work
Two major initiatives promoted by SARO were evaluated during this period. Inclusive Education Programme SARO's regional programme on IE, spread across seven locations in three countries had undergone a mid-term assessment (MTA) by a team of external and internal evaluators in February-March 2009. The assessment showed that - More than 60% of children with disabilities in the target areas were studying in mainstream schools due to programme interventions. The programme efforts in making schools accessible, conducting teacher trainings and involving government/NGOs were appreciated. Disability Resource Centres (DRCs) - To provide health and rehabilitation services to disabled people, SARO has initiated eight Disability Resource Centres (DRCs) in three countries. The DRC functions as a 'one-stop shop' which aims to meet all needs of disabled people and their family members. The DRCs offer therapy, counselling, information, training and referral services. A completely independent evaluation of the DRC concept and its impact were undertaken in May 2009. The evaluation showed that “The programme is an excellent model and should be the model for the future.” Some of the other major findings were -
Voice from the field: Tarushika was delighted to see us and came running to gret us and left us wondering - what life for this child would have been if the DRC had not come into her life. - Evaluators, DRC Evaluation. |
Partner Events
Some of the major events that have taken place in partner organisations during this period are -
>> Career guidance workshop
The Disability Livelihood Resource Center (DLRC) of Cheshire Home, Bangalore, India, conducted a 2-day career guidance workshop in May for graduate students with disabilities. The workshop aimed to orient them on various job and training opportunities available. Resource persons from reputed companies in IT / BPO, retail, garment and hospitality sectors addressed the participants.
They oriented the participants to job opportunities in each sector, qualifications/skills required and tips to prepare oneself for an interview. To motivate the participants, examples of persons with disabilities employed with IBM, Dell, Tata Consultancy Services and many other corporates were shared.
>> Advocacy efforts
Jharkhand Viklang Manch (JVM), a LCD promoted disabled people's federation, has taken the lead in advocating rights of disabled people in Jharkhand state. There are many examples of disabled people's inclusion and redressal of their grievances due to JVM's advocacy efforts.
Recognising JVM as a representative voice of disabled people, the Advisory Committee of Eastern Railways (Chakradharpur Division) has requested Mr. Arun Kumar Singh a well-known disability activist and President of JVM to be a member on their committee.
>> Accessible elections
JVM along with another organisation Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) recently filed a petition asking the Election Commission (EC) of Jharkhand on steps taken to make the elections barrier-free for disabled people, as per an earlier Supreme Court order. The EC replied that in two districts of Jharkhand, steps would be taken to sensitise people on this issue. However, no awareness programmes were conducted on this issue.
Therefore, JVM members organised a press conference on 29th March to express their views about participation of disabled people in the coming elections, the inaccessibility of current voting systems i.e. absence of permanent or temporary ramps in poling booths, Braille embossed or audio voting machines for people with visual impairments and lack of sign language interpreters for people with speech & hearing impairments.
They also filed a public interest petition in the High Court against the EC for not complying with the Supreme Court order. A division bench was constituted to hear the petition, who asked the EC to take immediate action to ensure all polling stations were barrier-free for people with disabilities.
To monitor the court verdict, JVM members have visited polling stations in the second phase of the elections across six districts. They aim to make a report of their findings and submit in the next court hearing.
>> Inauguration of LCD-GSK project
In the current year, Glaxo SmithKline has supported LC Disability Resource Centre (LCDRC) in Sri Lanka to start a programme for persons with disabilities. The programme was inaugurated on 18th March 2009.
From GSK, Mr.Stuart A. Chapmen, Managing Director, Mr. Roger Talayarathnam, Head of Sales, Mr.Youhan Wickrremasinghe, Regional Sales Manager, Mr. Gayan Kumara, Medical Promotion Representative were present on the occasion. Mr.K.I. De Silva (Hon. Chairman Cheshire National Council, Sri Lanka) and Mr. Lasantha Perera (Cheshire Home, Negambo) participated as guests of honour. Around 325 persons with disabilities and eight media personnel were also present on the occasion.
The guests were introduced to Cheshire work in Sri Lanka, the objectives of GSK-LCDRC project and taken around to see the DRC's Physiotherapy unit, Library, Assistive devices section, Help line, Children's park and administration unit. On the occasion, many persons with disabilities spoke about issues faced by them and support received from LCDRC.
>> Working with the government
LCD programmes in Sri Lanka work closely with the government education department for inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools.
Recently, the Department of Special Education in Southern Province, Galle requested the project to help them develop four schools in the area as model inclusive schools and also train teachers on inclusive education. Based on this request, the project has identified two schools and is in the process of making them inclusive. Also, a two day teacher training programme on inclusive education was held for 44 teachers working with the department.
Similarly, based on the request of the Department of Education in Western province, LCD project in Trincomallee conducted a sensitisation programme on IE for 25 officials.
>> Enhancing livelihood opportunities
In the last six months, LCDRC, Sri Lanka, has identified 112 persons with disabilities and their family members who need livelihood support. They have been trained on various vocations and given raw materials, machinery and other equipment to continue with the activity for income generation.
>> Media sensitisation 
Leonard Cheshire Disability & Development Programme, Pakistan (LCDDP) conducted a sensitisation workshop for representatives of print and electronic media in April at Chakwal. The workshop aimed to - enhance understanding of disability related issues, highlight negative attitudes, stigma, lack of opportunities in education and jobs, discrimination and marginalisation towards persons with disabilities. More than 25 media representatives from reputed newspaper and news channels participated in the event.
In the workshop, the role of media in presenting social issues and shaping attitudes and behaviours was highlighted. Stress was laid on usage of neutral rather than disability focused language, highlighting abilities rather than disabilities, promoting disability rights and highlighting grievances of disabled people.
Persons with disabilities interacted with media representatives in the workshop. This interaction helped showcase the capabilities of disabled people.
Towards the end of the workshop, the media representatives agreed to extend their full support and cooperation in highlighting disability issues through print and electronic media.
>> Sensitisation workshop for local artisans
To develop positive attitudes towards disability and promote skill development opportunities for disabled people, LCDDP (Pakistan) conducted a sensitisation workshop for 'Local Artisans' in March.
15 artisans participated in the workshop and discussed on capabilities of persons with disabilities and how they can take up different trades. Also, barriers to take up each of the identified trades were discussed.
At the end of the workshop, the artisans pledged to include persons with disabilities into their trade.