We are pleased to announce that the following funds will be distributed to 11 partner DPOs in the next week. Thanks to all who have donated and enabled us to make these grants.
Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation: $2,000 for leadership training for women and youth
Fiji Association of the Deaf: $500 for an interpreting - awareness program at the Ministry of Information and Fiji TV and an interpreters' workshop for professional development
Te Toa Matoa (Kiribati): $1,500 for an awareness program on an outer Northern island
OMEKESANG (Palau): $500 for resource materials and office supplies
Nuanua O Le Alofa Inc (Samoa): $1,000 for training workshop to formulate strategic plan for 2012-2015 and parts of preparations for the international day for persons with disabilities
Disabled Peoples Association of the Solomon Islands: $1,000 for board meetings, electricity, postal box rental, office carpet, white board, membership fees, office table
Ra'es Hadomi Timor Oan (Timor Leste): $2,000 for expenses for AGM to be held on December 1st2011 - transport costs, venue and food costs, and some accommodation costs for members from around Timor Leste
Naunau 'oe 'Alamaite Tonga: $1,000 for office furnishings such as table, bookshelf, plastic chairs, carpet, paint and stationery
Fusi Alofa Tuvalu: $1,000 for capacity building with women - learning cooking skills and to also fundraise for Fusi Alofa
Disability Promotion & Advocacy Association (Vanuatu): $2,000 for quarterly visits by coordinator to Port Vila
The next funding allocation will be in May 2012. If you would like to make a donation before that time you can donate to APIDS using credit cards atwww.givenow.com.au/apidsor by cheque to 49 Rubiton Crt, Gisborne VIC 3437.
Donations $2 and over are tax deductible.
THREE MORE PARTNERS An exciting time for APIDS as we sign with three more Fiji DPOs: Fiji Association of the Deaf Psychiatric Survivors Association Spinal Injuries Association
APIDS recently celebrated 5 years of existence. Read all about it in our August newsletter. Click here to download this file
UNITED BLIND PERSONS OF FIJI (UBP)- Partner number 14 APIDS signed an agreement with UBP on July 25th - UBP is the national DPO for people who are blind or vision impaired in Fiji.
PALAU APIDS signed an agreement with our thirteenth partner DPO on July 6th - OMEKESANG - the Palau DPO. An exciting day - welcome to the family
APIDS welcomes the release of the World Report on Disability on June 9th 2011 at the UN Headquarters in New York. Our partners Ipul Powaseu from PNG, Teewata Rokete from Kiribati and Setareki Macanawai from Pacific Disability Forum attended the event launching the Report. Word Version of the Report available from http://db.tt/RcIeyCn
REPORT ON FDPA (FIJI) ADVOCACY WORKSHOP Read the report here Click here to download this file
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN SAMOA Go to the Nuanua O Le Alofa page to read the latest documents.
RESEARCH PAPER NUMBER TWO PDF and APIDS are undertaking a joint research project in 2011 and 2012 entitled Capacity Development for Effective and Efficient Disabled Persons Organisations in Pacific Island Countries. The research team attended the 2011 Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) Conference and meetings from 4th-7th April 2011, in Auckland New Zealand. During the Conference 15 people from Australia and New Zealand were interviewed by a member of the research team. The interviewees were from donor agencies (including AusAID and Aid Division of New Zealand?s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade), DPOs, development partners and other interested people. Read the report here Click here to download this file
FUNDING UPDATE - MAY 2011 We are pleased to announce the following funding was sent to partner DPOs in May FDPA ? $1,900 for the costs of transport, meals, administration for 18 participants in a two week advocacy course Kiribati - $370 added to the costs of a disability awareness program on an outer island (finding held over from November) to enable 11 people to travel (9 participants in the drama and 2 staff) PNG - $2,000 to assist a provincial DPO - Bougainville buy a computer and office equipment Solomons - $1,200 to assist volunteers in three provinces with their CRPD awareness activities. The branches are in Malaita, Savo and Guadalcanal Tuvalu - $1,000 to set up a handicraft income generation project for women Vanuatu - $1,100 for two quarterly visits to Port Vila
RESEARCH PROJECT UPDATE Four countries have been visited so far in 2011 - Fiji, the Cook Islands, Samoa and PNG. Reports will be published on the Capacity Development Page soon as they are available. You can also find photos on our photo page PDF 2011 womens meeting Final outcomes document (Word) Click here to download this file Final outcomes document (PDF) Click here to download this file
Australia Pacific Islands Disability Support (APIDS) was established as a non-profit company in 2005 to assist disabled peoples organisations to contribute towards the alleviation of poverty for people with disabilities in Pacific Island countries. APIDS supports disabled peoples organisations to meet the objectives they have prioritized for themselves. You can donate to APIDS at www.givenow.com.au/apids Donations $2 and over are tax deductible. Australia Pacific Islands Disability Support Limited partners with the World Relief Overseas Aid Fund by acting as its agent for fundraising and the delivery of relief and development projects in developing countries. www.worldrelief.org.au/ 
