Community Services: Nongovernment Organizations
C. Community Services: Nongovernment Organizations
1. Sunera Foundation for Performing Arts
Sector:
Community services in the performing arts
Goals:
Functional and technical independence and environmental awareness
KIPA Focus:
Knowledge and access
Country: Sri Lanka
Participating agencies:
Sunera Foundation with representatives from the AMICI Dance Theatre Company and cofounder of the Butterflies Theatre Group Panel of Puppetry of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka ([email protected])
Beneficiaries:
Physically and mentally disabled (differently) persons, victims of ethnic conflict (trauma), and people without disability.
21. Background: Sri Lanka has many young people who were born with mental and physical disadvantages or have been traumatized and marginalized by civil war. There is
Appendix 7 95
a lack of self-esteem/confidence among such vulnerable populations and lack of awareness of their needs. Sunera Foundation helps to integrate disadvantaged young people into the normal stream of life through activities that enable them to develop their creative talents.
22. Goal: The goal is to develop the creative talents of these people, which will act as therapy, especially in cases of trauma; develop their leadership qualities; integrate all ethnic groups with each other, as well as the nondisabled with the disabled; train potential leaders to be future trainers and workshop leaders; and develop the notion of amity and harmony among all groups by working closely together.
23. Strategy: The Sunera Foundation has functioned for 4 years. To organize the performing arts program, the Foundation has trained 14 young men and women in the knowledge and skills for conducting workshops in the performing arts and for working with vulnerable populations. The activities include creative workshops in the local community. Parents are encouraged to participate and involved, such as by bringing their children to attend, helping out during the workshop, and encouraging others to join. All members of the community are welcome to take part. A national group is selected to design and implement a major stage production in local theaters throughout Sri Lanka. The theme of the production and the selection of the players are conducted in a participatory way to promote inclusion, team building, and effective decision-making skills.
24. Output: Each year approximately 30 workshops are held on a regular and continuing basis. In the last 4 years, around 1,500–2,000 persons have participated in the program. A parent’s organization has been established, with each workshop promoting networking and self-help and also leading to the identification of new members to join the workshops. Several workshops on dance, drama, music, art, and puppetry were conducted for 100 children from refugee camps in the war zone in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). A two-year training program for 30 young trainees was conducted with funding from the United Kingdom Department for International Development. The Butterflies Theatre Group, consisting of
45 disadvantaged as well as nondisadvantaged and professional young people of all communities, has conducted three major stage productions.
25. Results: Technical independence. Participants have gained knew knowledge in creative arts. Management for social action. For all participants, there has been the opportunity to enhance self-esteem through sharing experiences, traditions, and languages creatively, and in working in groups. This has led to better harmony and new friendships among ethnic groups and better appreciation of each other’s role in society. Inclusion. People with disabilities have been included among the artistic community. Disability and other issues related to vulnerable groups and conflict have been included in the cultural activities of the community. Environmental awareness. Community awareness building has been fostered through the performing arts. There has been increased awareness of the needs of people with disabilities by the population of Sri Lanka and internationally.
96 Appendix 7
2. Accreditation and Monitoring of Programs for Blind Persons
Sector: Community services
Goal:
Management for social action
KIPA Focus:
Inclusion and knowledge
Country: India
Participating agencies:
Blind People’s Association (BPA)
Beneficiaries:
Persons with visual impairments
26. Background: BPA Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat is one of the largest and oldest disability organizations in India. Apart for implementing its own programs directly, the organization provides professional consultancies and appraises and monitors projects funded by international agencies. BPA has worked intensively to facilitate linkages of blind welfare organizations with mainstream organizations.
27. Goal: The comprehensive rehabilitation of people with all categories of disabilities through education, training, support services, research, and community- based interventions.
28. Strategy: BPA supports both institutional and community-based programs. A wide range of learning and training material has been developed. BPA promotes a cross–disability and multiagency approach, with a focus on convergence of available services and integration in mainstream development. Programs are designed to provide
a balance between interventions at the community level and referrals to specialist institutions. Critical success factors include the selection of appropriate workers, effective training, and workable mode of operation. Major areas of intervention include education and comprehensive rehabilitation for people with disabilities; development of technical aids and appliances; interventions for special education needs of children with disabilities; community-based rehabilitation program; creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities; and strengthening other nongovernment organizations (NGOs) through networking.
29. Results: Inclusion. Examples include addressing cross-disabilities issues; promoting decentralization; facilitating linkages between government and community- based organizations; resource mobilization for sustaining other NGOs; networking with various government ministries and NGOs; lobbying government; addressing the needs of the disabled; diversifying from one disability to cross-disability; promoting employment of people with disabilities; integrated education programs; and promoting and facilitating home-based interventions for people with disabilities. Future areas for mainstreaming for inclusion include convergence with the Department of Rural Development; lobbying the Department of Health for improved health delivery services; lobbying the Ministry of Labour for ensuring 3% reservation for people with disabilities in all jobs; and making the work environment accessible to people with disabilities. Knowledge. The following have been carried out: capacity building of NGOs; skill upgrading for people with disabilities; reaching out to the parents of the disabled through grassroots-level organizations and motivating them to organize themselves; acting as an intermediary for providing accessibility to information for people with disabilities; and networking with the private sector to promote more employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Appendix 7 97