REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES AFTER THE LEADERSHIP OF PERSON WITH DISABILITIES COURSE
Malawi - Leadership Development Course 2008
INTRODUCCTION
The governments of Malawi and Japan has diplomatic relations through which the disability movement in Malawi has benefited through the provision of capacity building programmes to organizations of persons with disabilities in general and persons with disability in particular. One of the programmes offered to persons with disability is the leadership of persons with disability course. The author of this report was on the recommendation of the Federation of Disability Organisation In Malawi (FEDOMA), chosen to participate in this programme in the year 2009. The course took place from the 21st of October, to the 12th of December.
One of the modules covered was to do with project planning and management. It is this area which empowered the participants with some knowledge and skills on how to come up with a project. Each of the participants came up with a project plan to be implemented in their own country. The author of this report came up with a project entitled “Disability for Ability Project” acronnymed “DIFAP”. This report will therefore highlight some developments undertaken as part of the implementation of this plan over the past twelve months and some other activities the participant has been involved since his return from eight week long training programme in Japan.
ACTIVITIES PLANNED.
- -Establishment of a human rights resource unit.
- -Advocacy training workshops.
- -Grass root trainings.
- -Public lectures.
- -Media consultative meetings.
- -Meetings with Parliamentarians.
- -Meetings with different decision makers.
- -Rallies.
ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN.
1. RESSOURCE CENTRE
Fedoma was in the last week of the month of December, 2008 granted five computers by the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority as an initial stage in the establishment of its resource centre situated within the organization's head office in Blantyre.
In the same vein Sky Band, one of Malawi's leading internet service provider offered to provide free internet connection with a year of free usage to the resource centre.
Another development has been done within Malawi Union of the Blind. A resource Centre has been established with a lot of literature on social, economic and political affairs in Braille, in print and in audio formats.
2. ADVOCACY WORKSHOPS
By February, 2009, Sight Savers International, which is very much associated with the visually
impaired, approved a funding amounting to just over $15, 000 for an advocacy training workshop. It
took place in May, 2009, bringing together two participants from each of the eight affiliate members
of FEDOMA. It was a five day workshop.
An advocacy strategy plan was developed at the end of the workshop.
3. GRASSROOT TRAININGS.
Over the past twelve months two grassroots trainings gave been conducted. However, contrary to
the original plan these trainings only targeted members of Malawi Union of the Blind, due to the
financier's condition. One was conducted in the north and southern regions respectively.
Each of the sessions had eighteen participants and lasted for a period of four days and was aimed at
empowering the participants with some skills on advocating within their respective communities for
better services for persons with disabilities.
OTHER ACTIVITIES.
In addition to the planned activities the participants were also involved in the implementation of several activities as follows:
1. Presentation.
In March, 2009 the author made a presentation in an HIV AND AIDS consultative meeting organized by the National Aids Commission of Malawi. The presentation was about the challenges faced by persons with visual impairment in so far as the pandemic is concerned.
In April, 2009 he was invited to make a presentation at a workshop for members of staff of the Department For International Development of the British government. The presentation was about the situation of persons with disabilities in Malawi and how to mainstream disability issues within the work of the department.
2. Participation In Workshops or Trainings.
The participants were also nominated around the country.
In addition, he also presided over the youth conference for blind youths which took place on 7th
December, 2009 attracted the funding to the tune of $14,000.
-The author has also been involved in youth activities by presiding over the youth workshop for
MUB. Youth with leadership training. This took place in May, 2009. The workshop drew participants'
fattor.
The project in this task.
-MUB. Also got funding from the National Aids Commission of Malawi for an HIV and AIDS project and
the author is the chief facilitanated to attend several programs both at local and internal levels:
-In February, 2009 he participated in a resource persons training on HIV AIDS in Kenya. This
training equipped the participants to be international trainers in this discipline
-He also attended a workshop which developed Malawi Union of the Blind's 2010 to 2015 strategic plan.
3. Activities Presided Over or Facilitated.
The following are the activities the author presided over or facilitated over the past twelve
months.
-Malawi Union of the Blind has in 2009 successfully lobbied for a voting pattern that allows persons
with visual impairment to vote in national election without the help of an assistant, thereby
maintaining their right to privacy.
Through this MUB. Accessed a funding of about $50, 000 from the United Nations Development
Programmes for conducting voter and civic education to the visually impaired voters and training of
presiding officers.
This participant was one of the persons who were the trainers in this discipline.
-Malawi Union of the Blind also accessed funding for its HIV and AIDS project amounting to $14,000
from the National Aids Commission of Malawi. The project has this author as its chief facilitator.
The presided over this workshop. He also presided over MUB's youth conference which took place on
7th December 2009.
