Travel Photos from the year 2011
Tanzania | Sierra Leone | Ghana | India and Bangladesh | Tajikistan | Ethiopia | Kazakhstan | Burundi | Uganda
2011 Uganda
Abilis delegation moved to Uganda in November 2011 after spending some days in Burundi. In Uganda Project Coordinators Ms Tuula Heima-Tirkkonen and Mr Arto Vilmi had first for next year's partnership program negotiations with National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda, NUDIPU. Later wide fieldtrips were taken to projects around Kampala area, East Uganda and South-West-Central Uganda under the guidance of Abilis Facilitator Ms Rose Achayo Obol and Assistant Facilitator Ms Beatrice Nafuna.
Hope with Cerebral Palsy HOCEPA, Kampala; Empowering Cerebral Palsy Children to Live Better and Productive Life. Families with CP children had got poultry farming and also advice how to rehabilitate the children. HOCEPA could need good partnership and funding from some professional physiotherapy NGO. Dr Godfrey Muwonge is talking with a grandmother of CP-boy. Poultry is growing in next room of the home.
Wakiso District Disabled Women Association, Craft Making and Piggery Project, Kampala suburb. Traditionally handplaited baskets are valuable products. They are nowadays used in wedding seremonies and are selling well. Disabled women can work on this handicraft at the same time than selling other small items on markets.
Spinal Injuries Association, Kampala, is run by young activists. Most of the members have disabled as victims of traffic crashes. As a sub result of Abilis funded Awareness and Advocacy project they got donation of 5 acres land for rehabilitation centre from Kampala business society.
Iganga District Action on Physical Disability, IDAPD, Sustainable Livelihood Initiatives to People with Physical Disabilities -project. Families of physically disabled persons had received new stoves, farming tools, seeds and 40 goats. National Agricultural Advisory Services NAADS and District Veterinary Officer gave their professional knowledge in training workshops and later Cross learning groups gather for demonstrating best practices farmers have developed by themselves.
Butalegya Sub-county Disabled Peoples Association have project Awareness Raising on the Rights of PWDs and Cattle Rearing. After food shortage in early 2011 they wanted now to use all their project money for cows and other foodsecurity means. Abilis Assistant Facilitator Ms Beatrice Nafuna chairing the meeting with Abilis delegation.
Masira Sub-county Disabled People's Association homes were high on the mountains of Bulambuli district in East Uganda. While having meeting with the members and hearing the report of Cattle Keeping project clouds gathered under the villageroads and Abilis delegation hurried downward before the rain shut the roads for days.
Sisiyi Sub-county Disabled Persons Association home village situated on lower hillside in Bulambuli. Also their project was for Cow Keeping. Members wished Abilis wellcome with a dance.
Two members of Sisiyi PWD group are still buried under these heaps of soil. Landslide hit the mountainside road soon after the cow keeping training and distribution of cattle had ended. These two participants were walking to home. May their souls rest in peace.
Mpigi Persons with Disabilities had developed small Candle making factory and worked in two containers at yeards of Mpigi District Headquarters south to Kampala. Many disabled young men and women come to work in the candle factory. They are able to procude and pack some thousands of candles every day.
Manyama Disabled Farmers Group was producing thousands of pineapples to be sold in Kampala markets. Project area is in Kalisizo, Rakai District in South East Uganda.
Nakaseke Balema Twekembe Group was in half way with their Dairy Enterprise for PWDs for improved Nutrition and Incomes. One beneficiary with her cow and another wih his children. Problem with small scale milk producers is how to get milk for sale into markets in time and in fresh condition. Their homes are in Lowero district not far from Kampala.
Kijura Disabled Women Association, KIDWA. These women came together first to learn read and write. Now they run many kind of businesses in Masindi. With small grant from Abilis they developed dry food banking and selling cooperative. Abilis delegation with Facilitator Ms Rose Achayo Obol met the group under a tree.
2011 Burundi
In November 2011 Abilis took her first worktrip to Burundi as an addition to visit Uganda. This was the first time Abilis delegation visited so called French speaking African country. There have been some applications coming and some projects finalized in Burundi in 2000ies and also in nearby districts of Congo Republic. Abilis project coordinators Mr Arto Vilmi and Mrs Tuula Heima-Tirkkonen stayed three days in Bujumbura. Local NGO disability scene activists were invited for information lunch. Representatives of Congo Handicap came from Uvira. Here in picture.
Contacts to Burundi were developed by the help of UNIPROBA, Human Rights NGO that is a partner NGO with Abilis sister Foundation KIOS. In Bujumbura Abilis delegation was guided by ASAVO Burundi staff.
Deaf Children in Burundi can gain education in two boarding schools. This very big school with about 1000 pupils was in Bujumbura. French sign language is mostly used.
Disabled Persons Organisations, DPOs in East Africa are networking fast. Network of Burundi DPOs, RAPHB and Resource Centre for PWDs, RCPHB had their offices together. The activists working in the Centre had participated in trainings in Nairobi and Kampala.
Abilis delegation was also taken to the up to now only mental health hospital in Bujumbura. Unfortunately Abilis mandate does not cover work of hospitals and medical care. Only associations of patients themselves would get project funding from Abilis.
2011 Kazakhstan
The executive director of Abilis, Marjo Heinonen and project coordinator Leena Hahle visited Kazakhstan in September 2011. During the visit many good discussions were held with the Abilis Partner Organization AGOI, Almaty City Society regarding the partnership. During the visit the Abilis team visited 10 local DPOs in Almaty, Taldykorgan and Semei.
A group photo with the Abilis Review Board, set up by the Abilis Partner Organization, AGOI.
The visit to UMIT, The Center of support for the Deaf People, provided a good insight view to the Abilis funded project (09AA065) that focused on Sign Language Interpreter training. The project increased the competency of the interpreters and assisted to collect new signs for the Sign Language.
The Abilis team visited also some applicant organizations. One of them was ARDAGER, Organization of veterans and handicapped persons of Afghanistan war, based in Almaty. ARDAGER introduced their project idea to start psychosocial rehabilitation services for veterans of Afghanistan war (11AA081).
The Abilis team visited Semei (former Semipalatinsk), the city in the Northern part of Kazakhstan. Abilis supports ASYL, the Organization of Disabled People, to implement a project called "The good hands" (08AA106). The project provided rehabilitation and therapy for children and youth with disabilities.
This young and beuatiful girl is one of the beneficiaries of the project "The good hands". She is a talented artist.
Youth Foundation of Visually Impaired, ZHARDEM, is a local DPO in the city of Taldykorgan. ZHARDEM organized computer training for visually impaired persons (08AA028). The training was advanced level training and most of the trainees were university students.
2011 Ethiopia
The Chair of the Abilis Board, Mr Kalle Könkkölä, accompanied by the Executive Director Marjo Heinonen and Project Coordinator Jaana Linna paid a visit to Ethiopia in the end of April - beginning of May 2011. The programme included meetings with the Abilis Partner Organization in Ethiopia, discussions with applicant groups and visits to ongoing projects in Addis Ababa, Gondar, Bahir Dar and Dangla. Ethiopia is one of the partner countries of Abilis. There is more than 30 ongoing projects in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development, ECDD, is the Abilis Partner Organization. The Abilis Facilitator together with the assistant team supports and guides local DPOs to plan and implement projects. The representatives of Abilis provided training on Abilis principles and project management. The group photo below has been taken after the training.
The most common project type in Ethiopia is an income generation. During the monitoring trip the representatives of Abilis visited some projects aiming at sustainable income generation in grinding mill services, process food products and cattle fattening. Grinding mill services are essential in an Ethiopian community. Processed food, flour and spices are used daily for local food and meals. Grinding mill services provide permanent job and sustainable income to persons with disabilities (see photo below).
The idea of the processed food project is to dry, grind, pack and sell different products such as fruits, nuts and flour for sale. Abilis Foundation has supported groups to purchase necessary equipment and material for the business. During the project some basic business training has been provided to participants. A small scale business has changed the life of many persons with disabilities: earlier they were begging on the street, today they work and earn money for living. Here below, a woman with disability works for the food processing activities in Addis Ababa.
The cattle fattening project in Dangla has included many activities to equip the Organization of Disabled Persons in Dangla Town with relevant knowledge and resources in livestock. Among others, the members have got training, the group has purchased cattle and built the shelter. Today the active members of the group looks forward to selling meat and generate income for personal use, but also for the organization.
2011 Tajikistan
The Executive Director of Abilis Foundation, Marjo Heinonen, and the Project Coordinator Leena Hahle, visited Tajikistan early April 2011. The monitoring visit included meetings with applicant groups and visits to ongoing projects. A typical project in poor and beuatiful Tajikistan is an income generating project.
The local DPO, Disabled Peoples Organization of the city Istaravashan, is implementing a livestock project with lamps and sheep. The organization has purchsed sheep and distributed them to the members who take care of them. Livestock activities of persons with disabilities provides work and income, but assist also In social integration. In the photo below there is a member of the group with sheep and his daughter.
Another livestock project with sheep was visited in Tursunzade city, 2 hours drive from the capital city Dushanbe. By the project grant of Abilis Foundation the local DPO, Organization of Disabled People in City Tursunzade, has purchased 30 sheep and trained members to take care of sheep. In a long run the members can keep the lambs and continue livestock activities for income generation.
Abilis Foundation supports the Association of Parents with Children with Disability in Dushanbe to organize training and provide consultancy to the parents with children with disabilities on Human Rights and possibilities of their children. The project is also promoting the inclusive education of children with disabilities. Based on raised awareness and wider understanding of the disability issues the parents feel more empowered and are not hiding their children any more (see photo below).
The situation of women with disabilities in Tajikistan is still relatively weak. Abilis Foundation supports activities that are aiming at empowerment and capacity building of women with disabilities. Through empowerment women with disabilities find their way to participate and to be included in society. In the photo below, the Abilis team is together with the representatives of ISHTIROK, the Organization of Women with Disabilities, from Dushanbe and Vahdat city.
2011 India and Bangladesh
Kashmir & Kolkata
Abilis delegation Tuula Heima-Tirkkonen and Marina Kitaigorodski made a field visit to Kashmir and Kolkata, India and continued to Bangladesh at the end of February 2011. In the capital of Kashmir, Srinagar, they were accompanied by the representatives of Abilis Partner Organisation Mobility India, MI. In the picture from left to right Abilis Facilitator Mrs Jaykodi Velayudhan and Director Mrs Albina Shankar from MI, Abilis Project Coordinator Ms Tuula, Hope Disability Centre Kashmir Manager Sami Wani and Abilis Project Coordinator Ms Marina.
Hope Disability Centre has begun its work by rehabilitating physicaly disabled, mostly children, by orthopedic means and appliances. Self Help Groups and Income Generating Activities are rising tendency when PWDs are getting empowered. Besides the headquarters in Srinagar HDC has branches in other parts of the valley of Kashmir. - Homevisit was done to three year old girl who was born with club feet.
Kolkata – Hoogley – West Bengal
Nice stories can by found even by checking accounts and administration documents. Monitoring work in the office of Graham Bell Centre for the Deaf – which despite the name is a cross disability organisation. SWANIRVAR - Project concentrates on vocational training and income generating activities of disabled youth.
Sari embroidery workshop gives incomes to young women and men with different kind of disabilities. Leader of the group on left.
Although most of the young disabled had developed their own small businesses some had got job from community. This young physically disabled lady was hired for cooking food for children in community school. She loved her work.
Welcome speech to visitors by Chairlady of Young Deaf Group of NIR - Ideal Home for Mentally Challenged, Parganas, West Bengal. Despite the old styled name NIR was working modern ways in empowering cross disabled youth in Human Rights and independency. Some hundred of members were waiting in a hall and telling their future plans. New Indian sign language was used fluently by the staff of NIR.
Bangladesh
Abilis Partner Handicapp International Bangladesh country office in Dhaka was hosting Abilis team. HI staff in group picture with Country Director Mr Thomas Balivet on left and Abilis Facilitator Mr Jibon William Gomes on far right, Abilis Finnish visitors in middle.
Society for Awareness and Development of Disabled, SADD. The leader of the organization Mr. Sherajul Islam (on the right) is presenting the poster of Abilis funded project.
Manikganj Disabled Peoples Organization to Development, Manikganj DPOD, 4 hours drive from Dhaka to the North. The leader of the Organization Mr. Antaj Ali on the backround with the project staff and rewarding speech from the Abilis project coordinator.
Discussion with Self Help Group of Disabled people in Manikgang DPOD project. Many disabled people have got a possibility to get out of their homes for the first time.
Young representatives of the Self Help Group were performing a song and poem at large group meeting with visitors. In the Self Help Group the Disabled people have learnt to express themselves and not to be ashamed of their disability.
In a village first accessible toilet for disabled school children was build with Abilis funding.
2011 Ghana
A field visit to Ghana and Sierra Leone was also made in January 2011. The Vice President of Abilis, Ari Suutarla and Project Coordinator Jaana Linna met several disabled peoples´ organizations in both countries.
This is the entrance to the Accra Rehabilitation Centre Compound. Many of the national level organizations of disabled people have their offices in the compound, like The Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD), Ghana Blind Union GBU, The Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD), and Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD). The Abilis delegation had meetings with the representatives of these organizations.
The Abilis team is posing with members of Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism. These young people would like to meet albinos from other countries!
This photo was taken in the town of Cape Coast in Ghana. Abilis is funding the project 09AF122 "We CAN work too!". The project is being implemented by SAPID, Services and Advocacy for People with Intellectual Disability. Young people with developmental disabilities are being trained to become bakery workers.
The SAPID bakery has purchased all the machines needed by the bakery. This machine is a mixer.
2011 Sierra Leone
The Abilis team was welcomed by Sierra Leone Union of Polio Persons SLUPP and Disability Awareness Action Group DAAG in Freetown. Both organizations have their offices in this dwelling house.
An important part of the programme in Sierra Leone was "Disability Seminar for DPOs in Dialogue with Abilis Foundation Team in Sierra Leone". The seminar was well attended. Some representatives of the disabled peoples´ organizations made statements and the Abilis Project Coordinator gave a presentation on the Abilis funding policy. A lively discussion followed the presentation.
This is project 08AF130, Micro Credit Scheme for Physically Challenged Parents, implemented by WESOFOD-Lungi. The lady in the picture has received a micro loan. She used the loan to set up a small shop where she sells food. Her business enables her to support her family members, who are in the picture with her.
2011 Tanzania
Abilis' first field visit in 2011 took place in early January. Abilis Executive Director Marjo Heinonen and Project Coordinator Andrea Fichtmüller visited the Information Centre on Disability, ICD, Abilis Partner Organisation in Tanzania (Dar Es Salaam). The team visited projects and applicant groups in Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Zanzibar.
In the front of ICD Dar es Salaam office, from the left: Abilis Facilitator (in front left), two Abilis Review Board (ARB) members (non-disabled), Abilis Executive Director (standing in the back), 2 visually impaired/blind ARB members, Executive Director of ICD (wheelchair-user), and one physical disabled ARB member.
Network for disabled People living with HIV/AIDS, NEDIPHA+, project 09AF068: Tailoring Training and Production for PWDs, Dar es Salaam. Project Coordinator Andrea and Abilis Facilitator Anna discuss the book keeping of this project.
Parents of children with disabilities, Tailoring and Batik, members presensting proudly their shop and products in Kibaha-Pwani.
Kikundi cha jitihada walemavu Mvuti, KIJIWAM, project 09AF069, Food Processing and Peeling of Cashew Nuts, Dar es Salaam. Members proudly present and explain their growing and well-running food processing business.
Disabled Aids and General Engineerings, DAGE, project 10AF123, Disabled Bicycles. - Abilis Facilitator Anna together with group members in their production hall in Dar Es Salaam. The blue frames are soon to be turned into tricycles and will be delivered to PWDs.
Upendo - Development Community of Deaf Youths and Children, project 10AF168, Capacity Building to Deaf Children and Youth. - The youngest pupils at the centre for after-school education for hearing impaired and deaf children and youths at Zanzibar.
Tanzania League of the Blind, Tanga. - The Abilis team had fruitful discussions with this group at application stage.
