July 27, 2011 : Project Plan Presentations
Training Report - Decent work course
Today the nine participants presented their Project Plans.
Over the past two months of training, they have been nurturing ideas for a small-scale project that they will implement on their return home, with an aim to enhance employment of persons with disabilities. They have also learned practical skills for project planning and management through workshops.
Each participant was given 20 minutes to deliver a presentation, which was followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. Below is a list of the presentations with a short summary of each project.
1. Participant from Ghana
Title: Creative
Hands: Workshop Space for Idle PWDs in the Kumasi Metropolis
(PDF 336KB)
Summary:
PWDs are highly disadvantaged in Ghana, where they have little access to education and training. By
converting an unused dormitory block to a moderately equipped workshop, the project aims to enable
30 people with various disabilities currently forced into street begging to produce shoes and other
leather/sewing products for sale, and thereby to generate income by themselves and retain a sense
of dignity. It also aims to challenge negative perceptions that families and society tend to have
on disabled people, by demonstrating their abilities for craft work and trading.
2. Participant from Timor Leste
Title: Small
Workshop for Small Handicraft: Moris Rasik Babadok Handicraft
(PDF 243KB)
Summary:
PWDs have difficulty in getting a job, due to lack of employment opportunities and ubiquitous
discriminations in society. This project aims to support a small-craft workshop where 15 young men
with physical disabilities produce miniature Babadok (a drum) souvenirs to sell to tourists from
abroad. It will raise funding from various organizations to buy necessary equipment and seek
cooperation from a hotel in Dili, where a small shop will be resided. It hopes to develop
confidence among the crafters and also impact society that obstinately denies abilities of PWDs and
their chances for independent living.
3. Participant from Jordan 1
Title: Job Information and Training Center (PDF 258KB)
Summary:
While the Jordanian government shows its commitment to increasing job opportunities for PWDs, there
lacks a communication between job seekers and potential employers. This projects aims to bridge the
two sides by establishing a job-information and training center in Anman. It will collect and
supply information to PWDs and transmit practical skills to them. Simultaneously, it will inform
and encourage prospective employers to hire PWDs, by involving the Higher Council and NGOs. It
hopes to contribute to increasing work opportunities and economic independence of persons with
disabilities.
4. Participant from Fiji
Title: Bread Lovers Bakery (PDF 343KB)
Summary:
Young people with disabilities who successfully completed a vocational training still struggle in
finding a work in the mainstream job market. In order to tackle this situation, the project will
open a bakery in Brown Street Toobak Suva, where 10 people aged 16-27 with physical/intellectual
disabilities will be trained and employed. Identifying a potential bread market in the country, it
estimates to make enough profits to enable young trainees to earn an independent living, while
producing professional Fijian bread bakers.
5. Participant from Jordan 2
Title: Let's Go Back to the Fields (PDF 313KB)
Summary:
There is a serious lack of work opportunity for persons with disabilities in Jordan. By making use
of a piece of land available for free, this project aims to provide young people with physical
disabilities an opportunity to experience decent work in the field of agriculture. 15 men aged
20-25 living in Irbid City will accomplish the whole process of cultivating the land, growing
vegetables from seeds and selling products in the market, with advice and support from experts,
philanthropists and local communities. The goal of the project is make society as well as people
with disabilities themselves realize how capable they are of both economic activity and social
participation.
6. Participant from Jamaica
Title: Discovering Possibilities (PDF 332KB)
Summary:
Jamaica is a signatory to the UN convention and is currently drafting National Disability Act, with
a motivation to respect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities. However, in reality
those with disabilities are prevented from getting a job in society and a number of factors are
considered to be involved here. This research project aims to interrogate the problem and identify
individual factors contributing the situation. It will employ a qualitative method combining
in-depth interviewing and 2 focus group discussions. The goal is to draw up policy recommendations,
helping the government develop a strategy to increase work opportunities for PWDs in Jamaica.
7. Participant from Malaysia
Title: Rainbow
Project (First National Network for Inclusive Employment)
(PDF 337KB)
Summary:
In Malaysia, various organizations including NGOs, private firms and government work to promote
employment of PWDs, but there is a lack of communication and cooperation among them. Identifying a
need to interlink such organizations, the project will establish a committee to build a strong
inter-organizational network that can provide useful information and training to PWDs looking for
opportunities in the mainstream job market. It will benefit not only job seekers but also
organizations themselves, who can share information and learn from one another in hiring persons
with disabilities. The ultimate goal of the project is to create a society that is more
accommodative of individuals with different abilities.
8. Participant from Myanmar
Title: Future Light Ringing (PDF 100KB)
Summary:
Persons with disabilities in Myanmar can hardly have a job. The project aims to create decent work
opportunities for people with visual impairment. Given that most people rely on public phones in
Myanmar, it will establish a telephone operating business and train 10 graduates of the School for
the Blind in Sagain, who will work as telephone operators and earn income. It will seek to involve
the Dept. of Social Welfare, the school and a telephone company. Its goal is to enable young blind
people to enjoy work experience and increase their self-esteem.
9. Participant from Mongolia
Title: Let's Work with Wheelchair (PDF 233KB)
Summary:
A wheelchair is an important assistive device for a person with a physical disability and can
increase her mobility as well as work opportunity, if it is the right size and shape to match her
body. If not, however, a wheelchair can harm its user and deteriorate her physical condition. The
National Rehabilitation Center fortunately receives free wheelchairs from an international charity,
but its lack of professional staff that can assess disability conditions of people and select a
right wheelchair for them spoils such donations. The project thus aims to train the center's
social workers so that it can offer a right wheelchair for everyone needing one. It also plans to
achieve 10 job placements of wheelchair users, as a small step towards a society offering decent
work opportunities for persons with disabilities in Mongolia.
All the presenters received a number of questions and comments on their respective projects. Thanks must go to the members of the planning committee, the chair persons and everyone who contributed to the inspiring discussions in Seminar Room 18.
Updates on the projects will be reported on this JICA Friends website later this year - so don't miss them!
