USTRALIAN DISABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT
Disability, Disadvantage and Development in the Pacific & Asia: An International Conference
To be held at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra from September 29-30, 2008
This will be an in-depth, multidisciplinary exploration of the inter-relationship between disability, disadvantage and development. The conference will provide first hand information on the situation of people with disabilities in the Pacific and Asia region including their access to services, their ability to access information and their opportunities for development. Speakers will include representatives from APIDS partner organisations and APIDS Directors. It will review the work of the global, regional and local organisations working with people with disabilities and the strategies and actions needed to ensure equal access to social and economic development of all.
The conference will bring together people with disabilities, disability practitioners, development workers, representatives of disabled people’s organisations, policy makers, aid donors, academics and government and non government organizations in the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asian countries, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
To express an interest in attending, please email apids@at aapt.net.au.
More details follow in the attached PDF document.Click here to download this file
NEWS FROM VANUATU
On March 27th DPA Vanuatu launched their strategic plan. Well done to you all at DPA. A copy is available for you.
Click here to download this file
DPA is also developing a website. It is currently under construction, but make this link one of your favourites: www.dpaav.org/
LINKS AND RESOURCES PAGE
You will find many interesting links on our Links and Resources page. It was updated on April 18th 2008.
PACIFIC DISABILITY FORUM(PDF)
PDF has just produced their February 2008 newsletter. A PDF copy is available.Click here to download this file
MOTIVATION
The latest newsletter from Motivation focuses on Asia Pacific - it features articles and photos of people with disabilities in PNG and Timor Leste. A PDF copy is available.Click here to download this file
ADDC CONFERENCE - Disability, Disadvantage and Development in the Pacific and Southeast Asia
Keep your calendar free for a two day conference, September 29-30, which will be held at the National Museum of Australia and will explore the inter-relationship between disability, disadvantage and poverty – a relationship that until recently has not been well recognized in development research, policy or practice. It will provide the opportunity to review the available research-based evidence on disability and its impact on national and household economies and on disabled people’s access to social services. The inclusion of a number of short case studies will illustrate the impact of regional, national and community-based activities that seek to address social and economic exclusion.
TIMOR LESTE
APIDS is pleased to announce that a partnership agreement has been signed in February with the DPO in Timor Leste (East Timor)- Kra’as Hadomi Timor Oan. The Timor Leste DPO formed in 2006 in Dili, Timor Leste. The formation of the group has been supported practically by two NGOs in Timor Leste (TLMI and ASSERT). The DPO has approximately 20 members who meet together monthly. The group has elected a leader, Mr Joazito dos Santos, who is employed by TLMI to facilitate the development of the DPO.
The DPO is not yet registered as a organisation in Timor Leste, or with DPI, and as yet has not any official funding sources. The group has no formal agreement with the relevant government ministry, the Ministry of Social Solidarity, but has received informal support from them. The group needs further support to initiate these connections, and to develop and implement clear and realistic objectives and activities.
The DPO vision is for Timor Leste to be free of discrimination and stigmatization towards disabled people. Thus far the group has met regularly, and at the first have developed a sense of group cohesion and mutual support. They have invited guest speakers, such as representatives from microcredit and skills training centres to speak to the group, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Social Solidarity. They have participated in sector wide Disability Working Group meetings, attended trainings for the disability sector in Timor, and organised activities for International Day of the Disabled and representation at community events. A good foundation for an effective DPO has been laid, but consolidation and development is the goal for 2008 and beyond.
VANUATU
Andy Lynch has announced that the Vanuatu Cricket Association has won an award under the ICC Development Programme for Photo of the Year.
"Having launched the "Cricket is for Everyone" in June 2007, DPA congratulates the VCA for including people with disabilities in its programme. In particular we congratulate VCA for the award of the Photo of the Year featuring Ms Leitangi Solomon, first Chair of DPA from 1999-2001, Vice Chair from 2001 - 2005 and ordinary member of DPA Coordinating Committee from 2005-2007"
As you can see the photo is a very worthy winner.
KIRIBATI
APIDS is pleased to announce that Te Toa Matoa, the Kiribati(pronounced Kiribus) DPO has received their A$300 grant. Teewata Rokete send the following email on 22 January 2008:
"Thank you very much for the money. I asked the Treasurer to check in the bank and she confirmed that we received in our account a$285 maybe the $15 minus is for the bank charge.
Kiribati Women with Disabilities will utilise the money for a training workshop, and I will let you know when it start along with the acquital report.
Cheers and thank you again
Teewata"
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN FIJI
Fiji Disabled People's Association held a workshop on Monday, 3rd December on 'Decent Work'. The Association Advocacy Officers prepared profiles of some people with disabilities in decent work for the workshop and for publicity. Go to the News from the Pacific page to meet some people with disabilities from Fiji.
VANUATU
Andy Lynch, from our partner organisation in Vanuatu, sent the following news on 24 October:
"I have just returned from Santo where I spent 9 days in both Luganville and visited our Affiliate called Vanmolmol in Narango, south of Luganville. This affiliate started a kindy in 2006 and is the first inclusive kindy in the area where four kids with disability are enrolled. The lady in charge is also doing adult literacy by including youths and adult in the kindy! We were able to sort out the importance of adult literacy and not to include them in the kindy. At this time I also informed them of the volunteer from APIDS who will be coming next year so they are really keen to have that volunteer. We shall be commencing the Sign Language Training this year - where the $300 generously provided by APIDS will be used for the training the kindy teacher and her aide plus some members of the Coordinating Committee who are parents. This will begin end of November beginning of December. Next year, the same trainer will be stationed at Narango to teach ALL those in kindy. Another volunteer from our affiliate in Toman Island will be working with the kindy and teach the teachers to play guitar.
We have some money to also assist Vanmolmol to build a permanent building. We are working with the Correctional Services to assist by getting the labour from detainees to clear the land and help build the building as part of their community service. This will commence around December - if we do not have any cyclones.
On 15 October we celebrated World Rural Women's Day in Luganville - where DPA took the initiative to kick start this annual event. We handed it over to the SANMA Island Council of Women to do it next year onwards! We also launched our saving scheme called 'Yumi Save Sef'."
Great to hear such positive news from Vanuatu.
FUNDING TO PARTNERS
At a meeting in April, Directors agreed to provide grants to four DPO’s. These are:
$300 to Disabled Peoples’ Association of Solomon Islands for production and distribution of a newsletter. The $300 Australian converted to $1860 in the Solomons currency.
$300 to Disability Promotion & Advocacy Association (Vanuatu) for sign language classes.
$500 to Fiji Disabled Peoples Association (FDPA) for the costs of operating the office in Suva.
$300 to Te Toa Matoa (Kiribati) for running a workshop on handicrafts, such as the making of doormats and fishing stick nets. The products made will be sold and the funds raised used to assist in building a multi-purpose centre for Te Toa Matoa members.
The extra amount to FDPA is in acknowledgement of the resources that were provided in the initial planning stages of APIDS.
Deborah Rhodes, in her travels with her paid work in August, presented A$300 Australian to Savina Nongebatu in the Solomons, and A$300 to Andy Lynch in Vanuatu.
One of our members visited Fiji in late September and presented $650 (Fijian) to Fiji Disabled Peoples Association.It is hoped that funds will be transferred to Kiribati in the next month.
AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEERS INTERNATIONAL (AVI)
APIDS is working in partnership with to enable people with disabilities to volunteer with three disability support organisations in the Pacific. Shortlisting and first interviews took place in October. One of the jobs is with the Psychiatric Survivors Association of Fiji and this photo is of the Associations' President, Luke.
What is APIDS?
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.ourcommunity.com.au/apids