This news update can also be downloaded as a PDF document(Please click here)Update - January 2009

Monthly news update                                          January 2009

 Regional News

Workshop on Inclusive Education Held

The Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (SADPD) held a workshop for parents and organisations working in education and children rights networks to advance Inclusive Education for children with disabilities in Mozambique late last year.

The workshop held on 20 -22 November 2008, was a partnership between the Secretariat and UNESCO. Participants included teachers, Disabled Peoples Organisations, leaders, NGOs working in education, child rights and inclusive secondary schools. Thirty participants attended the workshop.

Ana Maria Bernard Da Costa the co-coordinator of the Portuguese website on Inclusive education has posted some of the stories of the participants on Inclusive Education.

For more information on  the status of Inclusive Education in Mozambique, please Visit: http://redeinclusao.web.ua.pt

SADPD Evaluation Underway

The evaluation of activities of The Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities for the last Decade (1999-2009) is currently underway.

The exercise began in December last year in Senegal. Evaluators have been visiting the various countries the secretariat works in to document progress.

The evaluation process is a requirement inline with the extension of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities in which the secretariat has a mandate to implement the Continental Plan of Action. The Decade has been extended from 2010-2019.

The Declaration to extend the African Decade was made at the first meeting of AU ministers in charge of Social Development held in Windhoek, Namibia in October 2008.

This month, the evaluation process was concentrated in the Secretariat offices located in Cape Town, South Africa.

For more information, contact info@africandecade.co.za

SADPD facilitates Children with Disabilities Workshop in Rwanda

The Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (SADPD) in December, 2008 held a day Focus Group Discussion with parent organizations and organizations working in the interest of children with disabilities in Rwanda.

The objective of the Focus Group Discussion was to have a better understanding of the needs of parent organizations, so that subsequent capacity building initiatives are relevant and effective and to establish a task team to facilitate the establishment of a National Parent Network to advance the rights, opportunities and dignity of children with disabilities.

During the sessions the parents recognised that they had a shared vision and that it was in their best interest to network with one another.  A task team was established and a Yahoo group email was created to co-ordinate future networking and improve communication. 

The current situation of youth and their support needs were discussed at length and the way forward determined.

The youth committed themselves to partnering with the mainstream youth organizations such as Ajepredo youth group who participated in the workshop.

For more information, contact Email: Nafisa@africandecade.co.za

Rwanda Parliament to Discuss Welfare of Vulnerable Groups

Members of Parliament in Rwanda are set to discuss the welfare of vulnerable groups in the country this year. The initiative has been organised by a network of Rwandan Parliamentarians for the Population’s Development (RPRPD).

Categories of vulnerable Groups in Rwanda include People with Disabilities as well as genocide survivors. The Parliamentarian network was created in 2003 and started advocating for the welfare of people with technical support from both the parliament and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

So far, the network has taken the responsibility of explaining the country’s development programmes to different groups of society and building MP’s capacities to understand population policies, the Millennium Development goals, and the country’s Vision 2020.

After the genocide in1994, Hundreds lost their limbs increasing the number of persons with disabilities in the country. Those with disabilities have increased the number of vulnerable groups in the country calling for immediate intervention.

Its as a result of this urgency that parliamentarians in the country have come up with strategies to address the concern.

Source: New Times, 22 January 2009

Kenya Red Cross Aid Persons with Disabilities

Persons with Disabilities in Eldoret Town, about 300 KM from Kenya’s Capital, Nairobi this month received artificial limbs and wheel chairs for 13 amputees, donated by the Kenya Red Cross.

The amputees were from within Eldoret town and its environs. Others were from, West Pokot, Marakwet, Nandi, Kitale and Uasin Gishu districts. Most of the disabled persons lost their limbs through road accidents while others due to diabetes. The Red Cross collaborated with the Association for the physically disabled of Kenya and Jaipur foot organisation to acquire the artificial legs and wheelchairs.

A beneficiary Gladwell Naliaka could not hide her joy and said her acquired mobility would allow her resume her tailoring business. The Kenya Red Cross hopes to have another intervention phase in April 2009. It is hoped that another 15 individuals from the region will benefit.

Source: Daily Nation, 23 January 2009

SADPD Board Meet

The SADPD New Board had its first meeting this month, at the Secretariat offices in Cape Town.

The new Board was elected on 30th September 2008 during the Secretariat’s Annual General Meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya. It is comprised of Roseweter Mudarikwa - from Zimbabwe representing African Women’s Network (AWN)-CHAIR

Mrs. Vanessa dos Santos - from South Africa, representing Inclusion Africa -Secretary

Mzolisi ka Toni - from South Africa representing Disabled People of South Africa (DPSA) -Treasurer

Papa M. Fall - from Senegal representing, African Rehabilitation Institute (ARI)

David Shaba - from Tanzania, representing African Federation of Deaf Blind (AFDB)

Euphrasia Mbewe - from Zambia, representing African Deaf Union (ADU)

Nomasonto Grace Mazibuko - from South Africa representing Pan African Albino Society

Antony Zimba - representing Epilepsy Africa Regional Committee

Goulou Moussa Traore - from Mali, representing African Persons with Leprosy Disability Organisation (ALO)

Diop Alpha Boubacar - from Guinea representing the Pan African Federation of the Disabled(PAFOD)

Fredrick Asong  - from Ghana representing the Youth Network in Africa.       Moosa Salie from South Africa representing Psychiatric users and survivors    (PANUPS)

Mohammed Ez -zaoui - from Morocco representing African Union of the Blind (AFUB).

Kenyan Children with Disabilities Admitted in Mainstream Secondary schools

The Kenya integrated education programme has this year facilitated the entry of the top pupil with a disability at last Years Kenya Certificate of Primary Education into one of the top Schools in the country.

The student scored 386 marks out of a possible 600 marks and was admitted to prestigious Moi Nairobi girls. Others were Lochomin Jeremia Ebei, totally blind and who scored 373 and admitted to Kapsabet boys.

lokoel Samuel Emuria with Severe low vision and scored 350 marks admitted to kabianga boys sec in kericho. Lokolli Elizabeth Lolimet, totally blind and scored 299 was also admitted in Moi Nairobi girls though with concession arrangements.

Chumar Alex Lochor, totally blind and scored 286 was admitted at Katilu boys secondary.  Esuron Echakara martin, Low Vision and scored 267 marks was admitted to Katilu boys.

The move is encouraging and gives credit to all in the disability movement who work day and night to lobby for the mainstreaming of disability.

It’s the Secretariat’s desire that other countries emulate this and give inclusive education to its citizens.

For more information, contact nthuo@sightsavers.org

International News

Persons with Disabilities Face Discrimination at Work

Persons with disabilities are more likely to experience bully and harassment at work places, according to a new research.

The survey conducted among 4000 workers in UK indicated that those who were with a disability or had a long-term illness were more likely to report negative experiences at work.

The survey found out that 22.5 per cent of disabled  employees interviewed had been subject to “persistent unfair criticism” of their work and performance, compared to 13.4 percent of those who were not disabled and 11.6 percent claimed to have experienced physical violence at work compared to 5.5 percent of those without an impairment.

The research was conducted by Cardiff University and the University of Glamorgan for the equality and Human rights commission (EHRC).

It is said that the level of hate crime against people with disabilities at work places is on the increase. The unfortunate behaviour towards persons with disabilities is not unique to UK.

Probably it is much worse for persons with disabilities in offices in Africa. Getting the job is almost impossible and

once at the workplace changes of being declared redundant for alleged ‘incompetence’ are very high.

More need to be done to address discriminatory attitudes among employers. It is common knowledge that performance at work place would go up if people with disabilities are treated with dignity.

Governments must take notice of these treads and shift focus from welfare to work and make workplaces accessible to all. These will not only empower persons with disabilities but also reduce poverty levels especially in Africa.

For more information visit: www.equalityhumanrights.com

Upcoming Events

Regional

2-6 February

TOT on Disability

Location: Garden Court Eastern Boulevard Hotel, Cape Town

Contact: Judith@africandecade.co.za

28-31 March

Parents Network workshop

Location: Kenya

Contact: nafisa@africandecade.co.za

International

3 December

International Disability Day

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Helpful websites

www.afri-can.org 

www.motivation.org.uk

www.wheelchairfoundation.org

www.paranet.ch

www.joniandfriends.org

www.africandecade.org.za

The Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities News Update is circulated monthly. We welcome views and feed back from our readers. Your Reponses will always be published in the next issue. For more information, please contact info@africandecade.co.za

Compiled by: Jane Mwangi

Edited by: A. K. Dube