PHOTO: Amb. Laurent Delahousse
A two-year European Union-funded project voices for inclusion and civil society empowerment (VOICE) for people living with disabilities has been launched in Monrovia by the head of the European Union Delegation in Liberia, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse.
The project, which was launched on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, is to step up for the rights of people living with disabilities from February 2021-2023.
It is aimed at enhancing the capacity of civil society organizations to promote and empower persons with disabilities and to ensure that people with disabilities can fully enjoy their rights in Liberia.
Ambassador Dalahousse described people living with disabilities as “Super Heroes”, because they are moving on with their lives, even though many people who are difficult to recognize and accept them in society.
He said super heroes are people who do things differently, look different with a specific mission and quality.
According to the EU diplomat, Liberians and people with disabilities deserve and need a better life, roads, development, empowerment and survival.
Beneficiaries and EU diplomats pose for photo
He added that people living with disabilities have acquired skills, and develop positive deeds that others don’t have, something he said that makes them super hero and integrate them in society.
Mr. Dalahousse further stated that super hero(disabilities) has challenges in their community due to their physical disability.
The EU Ambassador said VOICE is about communication, including sign language to be taught in grade schools, higher learning institutions and at work places, pledging the European Union’s commitment to the project.
Cost of the Project
Giving an overview of the project, the Project Manager, Nibo R. Browne said Voices will promote inclusion and civil society empowerment for disabled people organizations.
Mr. Brown disclosed that the project is in the amount of six hundred thousand Euros and the budget is financed by the European Union.
He also disclosed that the project aims at enabling the umbrella federation of people with disabilities, the national union of organization of the disabled people’s organization (DPOS) and their members to effectively demand the respect and fulfillment of the human rights of all persons with disabilities (PWDs) in line with the United Nations convention on the rights of people with disabilities (UNCRPD) to which Liberia is a signatory in 2012.
The primary beneficiaries of the project are deaf and hard of hearing persons (HOH), who are being supported to ensure that they have equal access to work and employment opportunities.
VOICE project is being implemented in the counties of Montserrado, Bomi and Nimba Counties by AIFO coordinator in partnership with Williette Safehouse (co-applicant) along with other local partners and associates.
The project interventions are on four strategic areas and key activities which include: capacity building component: training sessions on organizational management skills.
Advocacy component: NUOD advocacy follow up meetings with DPOs to establish local advocacy actions.
Awareness component: the information education and communication (IEC) programme, community radio and TV programme with the participation of deaf and HOH persons focused on PWDs right to work and employment.
Finally, Livelihood and skills training component: the fellowship programme including life skills, sign language and vocational training, social entrepreneurship training and coaching for 90 deaf and HOH persons.
Boosting capacity of disabled people organizations
For her part, Melany Oey, Country Director, AIFO said the grant, which is being promoted by European Union, is meant to enhance the capacity of disabled people organizations (DOPs) in economic sustainability, human rights, resource mobilization and leadership skills; as well as foster inclusion of deaf and hard to hearing persons in national development agenda.
AIFO was founded in 1961 by the Italian Association Friends of Raoul Follereau (AIFO) with its main headquartersin Bologna, Italy.
According to Ms. Oey, the voice project is being implemented by AIFO which bears the overall responsibility of ensuring the effective implementation of the project along with Williette Safehouse (WS), Oscar Romero school of the deaf(ORs), National Union Organization of the disabled (NUOD) and the National Commission on disabilities (NCD).
According to a release from AIFO Liberia, the over all goal of the project is to promote all deaf and hard of hearing persons in Liberia, in order to enjoy their rights to have equal access to work and employment.
She also said, the project will also strengthen the Liberian civil society with focus on the disabled people organizations to enhance their capacity and autonomy to engage for socio-economic empowerment of the deaf and hard- of-hearing persons, thus contributing to sustainable and inclusive growth processes in Liberia.
Ms. Oey added that project will address organizations’ capacity building of disabled member organizations and administrative functions of the umbrella organizations of people with disabilities, the national union of organization of the disabled.
She said this will enhance their capacity to lead and coordinate a country wide citizens’ actions for the implementation of the United Nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and other pro- disability policies and programme.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the project have lauded the European Union for such an initiative and their commitment in working with and other partners. Report by Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com