Handicap International, a non-governmental humanitarian organization which focuses on the empowerment of the disabled, is currently training a cross section of disabled organizations in the country on Project writing and accessibility at the NRC rehabilitation center in Aberdeen, Freetown.
According to one of the facilitators Ba Abdul Sir, a Consultant from the Gambia, the workshop is aimed at building the capacity of disabled persons with the needed knowledge and expertise to write and submit project proposals to funding agencies.
He elaborated on the aims and objectives of the workshop, which includes report writing, budgeting, and implementation of projects to beneficiaries to achieve their desired goals.
He said that the training is a step in the right direction, as it would empower disabled groups to enable them contribute meaningfully to the development of the country through partnership care and support; with a holistic approach to address some of the challenges facing people living with disability.
Emma Turay, Vice President of the Sierra Leone Amputee Associat
ion, and also one of the participants, expressed gratitude to Handicap International for funding the training program for disabled groups in the country.
She spoke about the numerous contributions of Handicap International to the welfare and promotion of the disabled, adding that the project writing workshop would go a long way in reducing the extra financial burden on disabled groups to write project proposals.
Emma catalogued some of their challenges in accessing funds from funding agencies and also made mention of access to public buildings like schools and social centers which have been very difficult for most disabled youths. She appealed to Government and other humanitarian organizations for moral and financial support so that they could be empowered to contribute to the sustainable development of the country and reduce the culture of dependency on the public for hand outs.
Meanwhile, another group of disabled persons drawn from the Western Area have commenced a two-day training on accessibility and rehabilitation of people living with various forms of disability. Abdul Mannet Kamara, a Technician and Assistant Manager of the NRC Rehabilitation Center at Aberdeen explained the various forms of disabilities and the methods involved in the rehabilitation of amputees; highlighting the technical expertise involved in the rehabilitation of limbs and the types of care and support that disabled persons need. He then lamented on some of the constraints facing the rehabilitation center, pointing out that transportation has been one of the major problems facing victims and technicians wanting to help the disabled in remote areas. Concluding, he called for Government’s intervention in providing care and support to disabled persons in the country.
By Saidu Bah
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