The mission of the Global Network for Disabled People Sierra Leone is to help disabled persons achieve independence and provide quality education for disabled children.This mission includes, among other goals, to provide rehabilitation services, technological assistance, Advocacy, and public education as essential elements of human rights, health, peace, and security.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Founded in 2004, Global Network for Disabled People Sierra Leone will be a pioneer in rehabilitation, support services, and other practical programmes designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Recognized for our work and advocacy in many areas:Innovation, initiative, creativity community based rehabilitation programmes tailored to meet the unique and diverse needs of persons with Disabilities; promotion of assistive technology, passing of Disability legislation and other important laws and for raising Public awareness of disability issues in a way that encourages society to develop positive attitudes towards Disabled people.
Global Network for Disabled People- Sierra Leone is a nation wide network of affiliated Disabled peoples’ Organizations providing services and support in Freetown, Bafodia, Makeni, Lunsar, Magburaka, Lungi, Kabala and Kamakwie. All of these work together to serve and support about 1,800 persons with Disabilities.
In Africa in general, and in Sierra Leone in particular, Disability Leads to Economic, social, and political discrimination and neglect. It is also a proven fact that the worst plight of Disabled people is found in the remote towns and villages. In these areas Disabled persons are not given the opportunity to go to school or learn a technical or vocational skill. Also they are not given employment and are not included in the planning and decision making regarding their welfare and lack support to achieve their goals and attain their potential.
In Sierra Leone society believes that Disability is equivalent to a state worse than death, an idea reinforced by their collective obsession with physical beauty. Parents hide Disabled children or abandon them because society sees and treats the family as outcast.
The urgent need for justice, equal rights, access to mobility and/or orthopedic aids, as well as education and health care services for the Disabled has inspired some Disable persons and able people to form the Global Network for Disabled people- Sierra Leone. They thought it was time to champion the case for Resource-sharing, even if this meant going against the odds and facing what has been tradition. Moreover, they are determined to take up the challenged of accelerating equal participation and integration in all spheres of life.
ACCOUNTABILITY
For the sake of transparency and accountability projects will be implemented under the supervision of the Board of Directors appointed from the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender, and Children Affairs. Thus the Committee will hold monthly meetings and discuss reports from the Director as well as supervisor of each component, finance officer and other Administrators.
The administrative staff charged with the responsibility of purchasing and implementation of each activity along side with trainers, beneficiaries of members. Proforma invoices and receipts will be obtained for each item purchased for record-keeping and accountability.
Also, internal and external auditors, the press, and donors are all welcome to request information and review documentation on project operations and activities.
EVALUATION AND MONITORING
The evaluation and assessment on the impact and success of the projects will be done on a quarterly and annual basis. The evaluation will be done by the general members, councilors, auditors, and the educational center for the blind.The evaluation will be primarily based on the impact achieved on the standard of life, as well as the educational out put of children, trainees, and other participating beneficiaries. In addition, questionnaires will be prepared and distributed to be filled by the beneficiaries.
The financial officer will keep track of the actual costs in comparison to the expected costs, supervisors will also keep track of the actual activities and outcome in comparison to those set out in the project plan.
The project coordinators will constantly monitor the progress to know when something is not going right. Then can tackled the problem before it is too late. Work plan and project schedule will show if tasks. Set out are completed on time.
IMPACT INDICATIONS.
Disabled persons will be involved in decision, planning, and implementation of their welfare and general affairs.
- Disabled persons will have faith in their worth and dignity.
- Disabled persons will become useful responsible, self-reliant citizens
- Disabled persons will be integrated, respected and recognized.
- Education will mean an equal right and not a privilege.
- The tapping of talents and potential of the disabled.
- Members (beneficiaries), trainees will allow them to be gainfully employed.
- Improvements to the health of the disabled will be a primary concern to all members
- Street begging will be stamped out
The organization will work with a technical committee, training and projects committee.The committee will head the project implementation work and training. This committee will secure recognition from the line Ministries; namely social welfare, gender and children affairs. Youth and sports and Country and planning and economic development ministries. When these ministries accept and recognize the organization will be included in the government yearly budget for local NGOS. Government will be attracted and will be interested after the organization completes five (5) years; showing a track record of successful work and accurate reports both financial, writings and daily receipts of all purchased materials and funds used per year.
PROBLEMS STATEMENT
Disabled persons in Africa, and Sierra Leone in particular, face extreme poverty, illiteracy, deprivation and neglect. Generally, disabled people cannot afford to have a meal a day. Disabled people cannot received the appropriate attention and action in terms of recognizing their worth, dignity, and are not integrated into economic or social life. Their basic rights such as the right to education, employment, shelter are all trampled upon. Being economically disabled by prejudice, fewer of them survive. This is the situation that prevails in the city, urban centre, towns and villages.
It is apparent by society’s attitude towards the disabled that, disability leads to economic, social and political deprivation.
Even though the UN assembly at its 47th session in October 1992, adopted a resolution entitled “Towards the full integration of persons with disabilities into society”, the Government, NGO’S, volunteers, and International agencies working in Sierra Leone paid little attention to that call for change. As a vulnerable and disadvantaged people the Disabled deserved equal rights, opportunities, and support but have not had their condition improve. Only the vision of an organization such as the Global Network for disabled Sierra Leone can give hope, emancipate, and improve the situation of Disabled people in Sierra Leone.
Without exageration there is an urgent need and importance for this mission, vision and dream to be translated into concrete reality for the benefit of the Disabled.
In addition, disabled people feel very let down as their Government is one of the signatory countries to the convention against all forms of discrimination against the Disabled and enact legislation to improve access to opportunities for the Disabled. Organizations should work hard to change the way community and traditional treats Disabled persons. We believe that acceptance, recognition, equity and love are absolutely necessary for emancipation. Self worth safety and Disability development. If only we accept and treat all life as equal value with honesty, then post all resources human and otherwise then, there is faith in the dignity worth and potential of the Disable in Sierra Leone.
Our country was in a severe and barbaric war which destroyed many lives and only recently peace has been achieved.
Although the war is over, many Children have been left orphans, with no sponsor to plan their lives for a better future.
Mr.Salifu Kamara with other disabled activists have organized themselves to form a formidable organization called GLOBAL NETWORK FOR DISABLED PEOPLE SIERRA LEONE, as a tool for advocacy so as to bring hope and improve the lives of disabled and orphan Children in Sierra Leone
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
This mission and dream will be implemented by the management staff here in referred as the executive committee. The general members or there possible the beneficiary. The approach will be participatory inclusion and collaboration regarding trainees or beneficiaries rather than recipients of help. Considering or targeting population and community, it is intended that training will be done in various components such as computer training center for the blind, Small grant Scholarships for Children in high School, Adoption, establish a medical Center, Home for abandon Children with disabilities, Blacksmith, gara tie dying, shoe making, creative practical art, weaving, metal work, , wood work, vegetable gardening, fishing, and soap making. Each component will be supervised by a trained management staff member. The logical framework outline the implementation strategies and the possible procedures associated with the implementation can be explained thus: Design one year training Programme and courses. Review list of material needed to stocking the training center, obtain proforma invoices for materials, equipment thereby identify the best bargain, identify and contract tutors, procure training material and equipment and prepare workshop to train beneficiaries. Trainees will be interviewed to determine their field of interest, verification and final selection, facilitate lectures and supervise practical work and lessons review planning and implementation strategy.
The organization will operate its projects with an account requiring three signatures, that of the President as the principal signatory in the account, follow by Administrative officer and the accountant.
