USAID Project Involves Disabled People in Shaping Programs

Participants of the "Expanding Participation of People with Disabilities project" presentation. Minsk - November 07, 2008. On November 07, 2008, more than 40 people with disabilities, representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities (DPOs) and journalists attended a presentation of USAID’s Expanding Participation of People with Disabilities project.  The event was organized by USAID and the Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), together with Belarusian DPOs.  It was the first step in getting people with disabilities actively involved in planning, implementing and evaluating project activities.   According to a needs assessment, there are over 511,000 people with disabilities in Belarus.  The interests of the disabled are addressed in national programs and policies, such as the National Program, for the Prevention of Disability and Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities, and the National Program for a Barrier-Free Environment for People with Disabilities.  However, their rights are under-appreciated and under-utilized in practice.  Disabled people are limited in achieving their potential as active citizens, and they lack information about their rights, benefits, and available services.  DPOs lack skills in advocating the rights of their constituents.   USAID believes that active participation of people with disabilities in Belarus should start with their involvement in identifying their needs, as well as finding ways to solve their problems.  The new USAID project seeks to empower these people to take charge of their lives and play an active role in their communities.  At the November 7 event conducted by CCF, the participants gained an understanding of the project’s approach, methodology and expected results.  They provided honest and relevant feedback, which was incorporated in the design of upcoming trainings and workshops.   Following that first event (the project launch) a series of educational events were conducted on December 18-19 to get disabled people involved in the project implementation process.  One of them, Fundamentals of Effective Advocacy Training, is based on a peer education model.  Two experts, representing leading Belarusian DPOs, Belarusian Association of Assistance to Children with Disabilities and a Youth NGO, Different-Equal, were invited as trainers.  As a result of the training, participants understood what advocacy is and how purposeful advocacy effort can be implemented in the real life of their NGOs and communities.  In the future, active involvement of people with disabilities in project activities, in various capacities, - as trainers, implementers of small grant projects, participants of advocacy campaigns, service providers, - will remain the main principle of USAID assistance.

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