Govt. of Pakistan Govt. of KPK
Project on the Promotion of
Social Participation of
Persons with Disabilities
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Govt. of Pakistan Govt. of KPK |
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Jan.2010 - Dec.2010 Jan.2011-  13th Scavenging Activity at@District Secretariat Building, Abbottabad(Dec.31, 2009)One year of the A STAR has completed in the month of December, 2009. The project has started as a model project in the country based on National Plan of Action, in the first year of the project, project has conducted many awareness raising activities, in the sense to promote PWDs social participation, one of the famous activity is scavenging, which has many purposes but the main purpose is to participation of PWDs in social activities. A main part of the society took part in these activities, first activity was held in Abbottabad, with the passage of time this activity spread in many cities as well as in other provinces, one of the great activities was held at Islamabad with Director General Sanitary, Ministry of Social Welfare and DPOs, like Milestone, STEP, and DPDO. The very last 13th scavenging activity was held at District Secretariat Building Abbottabad, which is very famous public building in Abbottabad, and offices of the line departments of the Abbottabad located in this building, like A.C.O, Assistant Commissioner, District Planning Officer, EDOs, Nazim-e-Ala, Traffic police offices, etc. This building has an area of 12650 square meters. With the beginning of the activity all the Govt. staff came out including male and female staff, and they also took part in scavenging activity. The building has been cleaned after the period of seven years. The lunch was distributed among the participants.
 The Quaid-e Azam Day(Dec.25, 2009)As A STAR project is working on the social participation of PWDs, and their participation in the main stream of the society, promotion of PWDs social participation can promote through many sources, and through awareness raising on disabilities issues we can promote, PWDs social participation, so that why A STAR project has many kinds of Awareness raising activities to promote PWDs social participation since one year, with no area limitation. The celebrations of birth day of the great leader of the world Muhammad Ali Jinnah “Quaid-e-Azam” was celebrated with enthusiasm that we all the PWDs as citizens of Pakistan shall obey the principals of our Quaid and we all shall make Pakistan as postures and develop as Quaid wanted it to be. In three hours program different kinds of shows were presented by project staff and students. Program started with the Recite of Holy Quran by project staff with physical challenged, and Naat by project staff with visually challenged. The speaker persons were both project staff with physical challenged. In total participation of 150 about 70 were students from private sector, who participated with full intension and also participated in different program and par famed well. In speech content of the event about 6 persons both from project and schools participated, national anthem was present by persons with hearing challenged staff and others as well. Some of the staff told about their self life experience, they told about the changing’s in theirs life after joining this project. The Chief Guest Managing Director of Modern School System and President Tehreek insaf District Abbottabad thanks PWDs to invite him as Chief Guest, in his speech he spooked about the life of great leader of world, and said if PWDs participating in main stream of the society, they also can lead the world. Two under training assistant’s commissioner also address the audience.
 2nd Female Sports Festival(Dec. 21, 2009)The second women sports festival held at Rehmania Public School, Abbottabad December 21.2009 There were Round about 300 participants, program started with the recite of Holy Quran by a student from Rehmania Public School and Naat by Ayesha from light house school for Visually Challenged persons. Project Assistant briefed the purpose and activities of the project shortly. This sport program has much kind of games like, Naat Competition, Balloon blowing, Wearing bangles Banana Eating Musical Chair, etc total six schools were invited both from governmental and private sector, and each school participated with 10 students in games. Chief Guest in her speech appreciated the project activities and said “These activities will make more effect in friendly, barrier free society making” the society is not aware about the issues of PWDs, so these kinds of awareness raising activities will aware the society on such a important issue. In two hours program participants and visitors took interest, and really enjoyed the program. In Naat competition Student from Rehmania got first prize, bangles wearing the winner was Light House school, balloon blowing first prize win Govt. High school Kunj for girls, Banana eating competition first prize goes to Rehmania public school, and in musical chair student from Rehmania public school got first prize. In closing remarks Principal Rehmania Public School thanks project to conduct such an excited event in their school.
12th Scavenging Activity at Tehsile District Hospital, Hasanabdal(Dec.19, 2009)The 12th scavenging activity was arranged on December 19, 2009 and this time the selected place for scavenging was Tehsil Head Quarter Hospital Hasanabdal. Hassan Abdal is an historic town in Northern Punjab consists on 2 Union Councils and is a town of District Attock. It is located where Grand Trunk Road meets the Karakoram Highway near the N.W.F.P, northwest of Wah & it is 40 km northwest of Rawalpindi with the estimated population of about over 50,000. Hassan Abdal is famous for Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib, one of the most sacred places of Sikhism. Thousands of Sikhs visit the Gurudwara on the eve of Besakhi every year. The other historical place is a tomb erroneously called Lala Rukh Tomb. There is a grave inside a square walled Garden and a fresh water fish pond near the tomb. William Finch who traveled through India between 1608 and 1611 describes Hassan Abdal to be a “pleasant town with a small river and many fair tanks in which are many fishes with golden rings in their noses, the water was so clear that you may see a penny in the bottom”. The activity was started at 10.30 am with Qirat by a Patient of Hospital & Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool by a student with disability from S.E.C, Hasanabdal The Chief Guest, Tehsil Nazim Hassan Abdal & the MS of the hospital during their short speeches have appreciated the organizers for conducting such types of awareness raising campaigns & thanks the Project Staff being selected the town of Hassan Abdal After the short ceremony the scavenging was started in a very organized & disciplined way. All the students & the Project Staff’s participated wholeheartedly. The visitors in the area appreciated the participants in a very positive manner & the viewers committed themselves that they will clean their houses, schools, city & their beloved country with the same zeal & dedication as shown by the participants.
 ART-ART: Drawing Competition "Quie-e-Azam"(Dec. 14, 2009)The fourth awareness raising ART-ART activity held on Monday. 14. December 2009. At Government Comprehensive School for girls Abbottabad, the total number of participants was about 150, including supporters, guests and participants. Thirty students took part in drawing competition and twelve participated in poetry competition. The Chief Guest was the District officer Social Welfare and women Development Department Abbottabad, in this activity both governmental and private school participated, including students with disabilities The purpose of this activity is to create the opportunity while children with and without disabilities have a good time together and support for the first step of the interchange in future between schools and teachers. Program started with the Recitation of Holy Quran by a student from Kingstone School for inclusive education, and Naat by Ms. Shagufta from Government Girls High School Sheikh ul Bandi, with the conclusion of Naat, Project Assistant shortly briefed the project. The theme of the drawing competition was Quied-e-Azam “Muhammah Ali Jinnah” the leader in world. In respect of 25th December as Quied-e-Azam day, we have selected theme of the function honoring Queid-e-Azam “Muhammad Ali Jinnah” Program established with two parts, one was poetry and second was drawing, with the closing of drawing competition the second part of the program which was poetry competition started, and twelve students took part. Two poets were invited, and they participated voluntary for selection of the best poems/poetry, with the closing of poetry competition Chief Guest share view , he very appreciated our this activity and encourage us to do other activities like this in future, and he suggested that parents and teacher should join this activity with their participation they will have knowledge on different disability issues. The prize distribution ceremony started, in ART-ART competition the first prize goes to Abic Hall School Abbottabad. In the poetry competition Govt. Girls High School Sheikh-ul-Bandi got the first prize.
11th Scavenging Activity at Ayub Park, Haripur (Dec. 05, 2009)The 11th scavenging activity was arranged on December 5, 2009. Haripur is a District which was invaded by a Sikh General Heri Singh Nalva in 1822; it was renamed after his name. There are 45 Union Councils in Haripur & is a lush green area. Haripur is a birth place of some renowned personalities such as Field Marshal (Rtd) & the Ex-President Ayub Khan. & a great poet Qateel Shifaee. Some fruits of this district like Orange (Blood Malta) is a produce of this soil. The activity was started at 10.00 am with Qirat by Mubashir from Special Education. & Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool (S.A.W) by Osama of Iqra Academy The Chief Guest, Tehsil Nazim of the day during his short speech has praised the participant’s for their dedications for conducting such types of awareness raising campaigns & appreciated the Project Staff. Govt. Special Education for PH & MR School Khalabat, and Iqra Academy School Khalabat Town participated with their school children’s The scavenging was started in a very organized & disciplined way. All the students & the people around of the local area participated wholeheartedly. The visitors in the park appreciated the participants in a very positive manner & the viewers committed themselves that they will clean their houses, schools, city & their beloved country with the same zeal & dedication as shown by the participants. At the end of the activity lunch was arranged in the Banazir Bhutto Shaheed Hall adjacent to the Tehsil Nazim Office where a light musical program was also arranged by the students of Special School Students Khalabat Haripur.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES(Dec.03, 2009)As usual PWDs day was celebrated with great pump and show through out the country, the program was also conducted by the PWDs of A STAR project in Abbottabad city by their own. The activity was arranged at Jalal Baba auditorium. Member of Provincial Assembly was the Chief Guest of the Activity. The stage speakers persons were both PWDs and with gender balance. The participants delivered very informative speeches on the disability issues. A tableau was presented by PWD, s and non-PWD’s, the theme of the tableau was that why WWD could not get education, they are more intelligent then others, if they are given chance, they will prove their talent, they can participate in the society like others citizens. The participants also enjoyed songs, this part of the program was presented by PWDs and some how also non-PWDs. Some of the schools from Inclusive and special education took part in that program. This was the first program that PWDs hold without the support of donor, in Abbottabad, PWDs arranged all financial, human resources on self basis, some of the business sector of Abbottabad provided financial support for this program. This colorful activity was comprised of different segments. Chief guest in her presidential address said that she was amused to see such unique arrangements; PWDs have extra ordinary talent. She assured to provide her volunteer service at any time. D.C.O Abbottabad congratulated on the program arrangement, He said that PWD,s are the valuable asset of our society. He showed his intension to arrange such program on his own behalf in future. A t the end of the program a musical program was celebrated.
1st Female Sports Festival(Nov. 24, 2009)The 17th All Pakistan Sports Festival for Special Persons was held on June. However most of the participants were male, because of the cultural and social background. Now A STAR Project held the small, but the very first Female Sports Festival at the police line ground. More than 30 participants including Students from Special Schools, teachers and A STAR Project staff enjoyed the game. The Deputy Superintendent of Police was invited as a chief guest.
Music Chair:Students from school for the Deaf,
Staff with multiple disabilities(Visual & Physical)
Students from school for the Blind ART-ART:Drawing Competition"Scenery"(Nov. 19, 2009)One of the awareness raising activities has launched, which was named by ART-ART, Awareness Raising Through ART. This activity was done in the form of drawing competition at Al-Huda School for Hearing Impaired. The theme was "Scenery". There were about 50 participants, supporters and guests, including five students from each schools, Al-Huda School, Kingstone Inclusive School, Special Education Centre for children with physical and intellectual disabilities, Govt. Girls High School and Govt. Boys High School, and two teachers from each schools, A STAR Project Staff. The chief guest was the former district officer, Social Welfare Department, Abbottabad. Two hours competition was started after Tilawat by student from Special Education Centre and Naat by stundent from Govt. Girls High School. The 1st price was given to student from Al-Huda School and the 2nd for student from Govt. Gilrs High School and 3rd for Kingstone school. The purpose of this activity is to creat the opportunity while children with and without disabilities have a good time together and support for the first step of the interchange in future between schools and teachers. A STAR Project makes efforts the activities to be sustainable, by reducing the human/financial/material input to a minimum cost. The input and cost of this activity was only Rs. 2,000 for snacks, Trophies and stationaries, and some staff for A STAR Project.
Sign Language Interpretation by A STAR Project Staff
Competition under the sky
Art is common all over the world  100 Great Persons in Disability Movement of Pakistan(Nov. 19, 2009)There are a huge number of great persons with/without disabilities in Pakistan. All of them have been making effort in Disability Movement of Pakistan. But their great achievements looks like just buried in each personnel and some of them are passed into oblivion. Then A STAR Project proposed the booklet making, titled as “100 Great Persons in Disability Movement of Pakistan”. There are other purposes, like strengthening network between government and non-government organization, which is also one of output of A STAR Project. At first, A STAR Project selected core members for this initiative based on the collaboration with A STAR Project in the past, Mr. Atif Sheikh, STEP, Mr. Farhat Abbass, Pakistan Special, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Nizamani, ASHA and Mr. Shafique-ur-Rehman, Milestone. 1st meeting was held on Nov. 20 at Pakistan Special Office, where Mr. Farhat, Mr. Shafique and representatives from A STAR Project had discussion about next step of this initiative, criteria of the selection of great persons and so on. We made a plan to collect the basic data of great persons individuals through Pakistan Special magazine, post, e-mail, related-ML and website for a month, December 2009 and held 2nd meeting on January 2010. You can download the form, "Look for STARS" We’re looking forward to getting your information!
Form "Look for STARS", MS-Doc：106kb
Zia ul Haqq
Dr. Fatima Shah  CARATS, 1 st Meeting(Nov. 16, 2009)CARATS means Campaign of Awareness Raising Among Teachers and Students, in order to promote inclusive education. This initiative was originated from the local needs and the strength of District Abbottabad and the Project. It is famous that Abbottabad is City of Education, which has more than a thousand schools in public sectors, same number of schools in private schools and numerous madrassa and informal schools. Otherwise a few percent of children with disabilities go to school. One of the reasons is that some of ordinal schools don’t give admission for them, because of a lack of teachers, pickup & drop service and etc for children with disabilities. On the other hand, most of them or their family want to learn in ordinal school, which is located in their community. Public opinion based on the assessment of non-disabled people, done from Feb. to Mar. 2009, is that ninety percent of non-disabled people think that PWDs can get education, while it was cleared by the assessment of physically challenged, done from Apr. to Jul. 2009 that forty percent of children with physical disabilities of school age, want to study. It means that forty percent of them have no opportunity for education at present. A STAR Project grasped the situations and their needs through the assessment and made a new initiative to promote inclusive education. After the consideration of the human/financial/physical resource of the Project, we planned awareness raising campaign, named by CARATS. CARATS is unit of weight of diamond and gold. We compared the children with disabilities to diamonds or gold. CARATS 1st meeting was held on Nov. 16, where some representatives from ordinal schools both in public and private sectors, Project Steering Team members and A STAR Project staff participated in. The representatives from ordinal schools shared own experience of inclusive education and A STAR Project staff opened their heart to all about the difficulties related admission and their own miserable story in school days. We concluded that CARATS’d keep some points in mind as follows;
- Awareness Raising Activity should be llaunched from Govt. school in the community - The target of the activities'd be teacchers at Govt. schools. - How about selecting schools and invitee teachers of the neighbor school? - First of all, it's better to collect tthe data of students with disabilities in ordinal schools
10 th Scavenging Activity at Railway Station(Nov. 14, 2009)10 th activity was held at Railway Station, Havellian tehsil, Abbottabad, which is 15 km far from Abbottabad city. The activity began with the recitation from Holy Quran by staff from A STAR Project and after this, naat was presented by other staff. In the activity, there were more than seventy guests and participants including Railway related personnel, students without disabilities and principals both from private and public sectors, man from press club and Project steering team members, staff. The activity including planning/preparation/implementation has been successfully done by the new awareness raising staff, who are candidates for this activities. We are surprised at staff's grouth.
She is one of in-charge. Great job!
Let's get rolling
Students also work hard 9 th Scavenging Activity at DHQ Hospital(Oct. 30, 2009)9 th activity was held at District Head Quarter Hospital, Abbottabad. The activity began with the recitation from Holy Quran by staff from A STAR Project and after this, naat was presented by other staff. In the activity, there were more than sixty guests and participants like Medical Super intendent, Hospital staff, Persons with intellectual disability and mental illness, from community and Project steering team members, staff.
Activity introduction to Hospital staff and visiters
Smile 1
Smile2  TRY-A(Abbottabad) (Oct. 18, 2009)Awareness rising is one of the main key source to improve the social participation of PWDs. To achieve main purpose of the A STAR project many kinds of awareness rising activities started in project like scavenging, functions on some special days, and some others purpose achieving activities. Now the project has just started a new activity called Try which is based on wheel chairs walk, to improve the social participation of PWDs the behavior, thinking of the society about the PWDs must be change and Try is an activity to change the society by our self, and this activity has added in the chain of awareness rising activities of A STAR project. The very first activity of Try hold on 18 October, 2009 Sunday, named Try-A (Abbottabad) Basically this kind of activity started by Japanese in summer in 1986, and walked 600 km the purpose is to do barrier free (universal design) check at train stations and request barrier free environment. This activity held in Japan for 10 years now this has been finished after achieving their goals. In 2007 Asia try held In Korea and 181 peoples from 10 Asian countries participated In 2009 September Asia try held in Tiwan A STAR project invited many organizations both Governmental and Non-governmental including the educational sector of the M.B.B.S doctors; the participation of both governmental and non-governmental project will also achieve networking between them which is an out put of the project. About 250 participated including PWDs leaders, project related members, social workers, government employers and especially the participation from Frontier Medical College and their active participation through out the activity was remarkable. The opening ceremony was hold at Ayub Medical College, which is located near Shahrah e Resham. In the opening ceremony the chief guest was the Principal of Ayub Medical College, and the speaker person was the PST member of the project who is also one of PWDs. In the speeches of the stage persons they insisted on this kind of activities and PWDs social participation. Tilawat Quran and Naat presented by PWDs, because this activity is arranged by PWDs. After the short introduction of the speaking person痴 project manger explained about project and purpose of this activity, with the closing remarks of the chief guest all the participants came out from the hall, the line was draw as two wheelchairs user and their volunteer痴 supporter till the end of the row. The left side of the road and the right side of the row were enclosed by a rope, no one can enter or out from the line, and this method was very successful in safety point of view. On the top we had a police van, and then an ambulance which was provided by A.M.C and behind the ambulance we had a Suzuki van on that national songs were played. The speaking person at Suzuki van consistently was giving some advises during through out activity. After passing the 4 kilometer way reached at Capital Motors, at their refreshment were given by Capital Motors voluntarily. In the 4 kilometer way some vehicles were also with the convoy, some participants used these vehicles when they feel bad, after feeling good they were rejoining the convoy and started walked with them. After passing more 2.5 kilometers way they reached at Jalal Baba Auditorium. At the goal point and closing ceremony place some mores heads of the institutes joined the ceremony, after Namaz and lunch break program again started and the shields were distributed among the representatives of the institutes. According to the tentative program of the activity program closed after shields distribution. The project staff arranged a musical program by them self, and participants really enjoyed this program allot. This activity is arranged when the security situation of the country is very tight, every day we are facing bomb blast and many peoples has afraid in coming out. PWDs showed their huge talent to hold the activity in this security situation. We can do what we want This activity is covered by the national print and electronic media. Like in electronic media Geo TV which is very famous one in the county and many print media also painted this activity.
Awareness Raising Material II(Oct., 2009)Another awareness raising material has been prepared, based on the Project Logo, Activity related photos and Project Slogan.
Memo Box 8 th Scavenging Activity at Weekly Bazaar, Islamabad(Oct. 6, 2009)8th activity was held at Weekly Bazaar, which is located in Islamabad. The activity began with the recitation from Holy Quran by students from Special Education Centre, Abbottabad and after this, naat was presented by A Star Project staff. In the activity, there were more than seventy guests and participants like Director(North Region), Director General of Special Education and Director of Sanitation from Federal Government, STEP and DPDO from NGO side, Students and teachers from Special Education Centre, Project steering team members, staff. This activity gave big impact to the society, because there were lots of reporter from massmedia, working at national level, like Geo-TV, Express TV, Samaa TV and many newspaper company. Participants received lunch boxes from Director General of Sanitary and visited the Faisal Mosque, which is famous place in Islamabad
"I can do it!"
"You can do it!"  Project Cycle Management Workshop I(Sep.25, 2009)The workshop has been done, in order to promote their understanding of the methods to detect and analyze the problem.Theama of the workshop were as follows;
-Sub thema(Female): Lack of Awareness
Awareness Raising Material 1(Sep. 5, 2009)Several awareness raising materials have been prepared, based on the Project Logo, which was designed by students with disabilities, and the Project Slogans, which were proposed by persons with disabilities. These materials will be utilized in the Awareness Raising Activities like CARATS, Campaign of Awareness Raising Among Teachers and Students, Scavenging Activity and etc.
Note, File, Letter Head, Envelops Bazaar Walk@Main Bazaar(Sep. 5, 2009)There are huge crowds before EID, which is ceremony of ending of the Ramadan. A Project Staff planned this activity to change the society through shopping with friends and joy. We've never seen female staffs' smily faces, who came bazaar for shopping and selected clothes first time of their life.
Shopping is a first time of some female staff in their life.
Infomation collector and Driver is selecting EID card. 7 th Scavenging Activity at Jinnah Bagh, Abbottabad(Sep. 5, 2009)6th activity was held at Jinnah Bagh(Park), which is located in the center of the Abbottabad city.The activity began with the recitation from Holy Quran by staff from A Star Project staff and after this naat was presented by blind student from Light House School. During the activity, DCO addressed the community about the purpose of activity and emphasized upon the value of cleanliness. Lot of people were gathered during the activity and he told them that these disabled persons are living example for us if they can clean our country then why we people put garbage in our houses, streets, parks and public areas. We must have to learn lesson from this disabled community. The activity was very successful because people took great interest in our activity and get information about our project and also appreciated this scavenger activity. All the participants actively take part in the activity including blind students.
Project director briefing people gathered around about purpose of the activity
Blue sky and Blue crutch Plan of "TRY-AI"(Sep., 2009)TRI-AI is to walk by wheel chair from Abbottabadand to Islamabad and try to change the society by themselves with friends and joy. The detail is as follows(MS-Power Poing Data);
Pakistan Independence days Ceremony (Aug. 14, 2009)Ceremony for 62nd independence day was held on Aug. 14. DCO Abbottabad, Project Director made a speech that we hope persons with disabilities participate in society, as Jinnah's words, "Unity" and "Work, Work and Work!". People said that all living in Abbottabad who are PWDs/Non-PWDs, would cerebrate the independence day together next year.
Students with disabilities also cerebrated the day
Twins with disabilities are singing national anthem 6 th Scavenging Activity in Tandiyani(Aug. 8, 2009)6th activity was held at Tandiyani, which is located in the mountainarea, famous resourt and it takes 1.5 hours to drive by car from Abbottabad city. Twelve PWDs leader candidates from 12 Union Councils and about fifty project staff joined this activity. In the activity, magazines for awareness raising of disability issue and project calendars were distributed. After the activity, some from massmedia requested us to inform like this activity for media coverage. We found our activity had been famous.
"Nothing without joy" is our motto
Under the blue sky, On the green lawn 5 th Scavenging Activity in Ayubia(Jul. 25, 2009)5th activity was held at Ayubia, which was located in a part of Punjab Province and it takes one and half hour from Islamabad by car. Ayubia is famours for the resourt and people can enjoy skii in winter, where the lift also available. Some Project Steering Team members, volunteers and project staff joined this activity and enjoyed it as well as the climate.
A volunteer makes her busy!
The Project staff always enjoy the activity! Drawing Competition: "Peace"(Jul. 17, 2009)About seventy participants including students with disabilities from Special Education Centre and School for the Deaf, and A STAR Project staff, joiend the drawing competition, held at Special Education Centre, Abbottabad. The thema of the competition was "Peace". We are planning to extend the similar competition from district level to provincial and national level, in which all people with / without disabilities can participate. All competition-related staff were PWDs including preparation, planning and organizing, like pray for the beginning of competition and facilitator. One of the Project Steering Team, who is not also the director of Pak-Irish Rehabilitation Centre, but also the principal of private school gave us the lecture on " Education For Peace". The lecturer told the result of the continuous war through the Story of Medicine and the necessity of the education for peace. All participants expressed their wishes for peace on the sketchbooks.
"Education For Peace", Power Point Material(English):998kb
 Support of IDPs(Internal Displaced Persons) with disabilities(Jul, 2009)People with disabilities, who are one of most neglected and disadvantaged groups, can not get support, even the information of the support in the situation after man-made and natural disasters like war and earthquake. It lead them to live miserable lives and become more poor. After due consideration of IDPs' situation, A STAR Project has launched the support of them since July 2009, with the aim of making PWDs network, Awareness raising on the disability issue, mental care and providing information etc. The detail of the activities are to collect basic information, to distribute the various forms for support, to give counseling, to identify the PWDs and their family member leader candidate and to invite them regular workshops events for awareness raising on the disability and environmental issue, like scavenging activity, sports festivals and drawing competitions etc, through the assessment & survey. Their voice in the assessment & survey
"I did not want to go out except going to hospital, because I shamed about my disabilities. But I become to be not so shamed of my disabilities, after the assessment & survey by the project staff with severe disability"
●Female from Swat (Public school teacher in Barikot)
 Project staff have an interview with IDPWDs The salient of this support is to employ "IDPs with disabilities" as temporary staff, who should be generally supported by the Project. The feature makes the communication problem to solve between staff and IDPWDs, counseling & information provision to smooth, the capacity of temporary staff to develop and the network making between Abbottabad district and Malakand area to prepare. There are three IDPs as staff, eight trained field staff, a pushtu-speaking office staff and five vehicles and drivers with disabilities. The project has two points to pay attention. The first is that the support should be for all IDPWDs, that means "All activities should be with a perspective of gender, ethnicity, age and other socio-cultural factors.", which is one of policy of A STAR Project. The second is that the support should not be financial & material support, but information support, training and awareness raising, in order to make their rehabilitation smooth. Abbottabad district is a part of earthquake effected-areas. The excess of the financial support for PWDs prevented them to live independently. Under the consideration, the Project focus on non-financial & material support. 4th Scavenging Activity in Natiya Gali(Jul. 11, 2009)The fourth activity was held at Natiya Gali, where is a famous resort in Pakistan. At this time, about fifteen IDPWDs(Internal Displaced Persons With Disabilities) joined the activity. In addition to the original purpose, the activity for awareness raising on the disability & environmental issue, extended the target from district level to national level! Many tourists from other provinces visited there and looked at our activity. Some of them asked the project staff what is going on. The Project raised the awareness through both of showing and explaining the activity.
IDPWDs participants enjoyed the activities and coolness?
The Project staff enjoyed! All Pakistan Sports Festival for Special People(Jun. 24-26, 2009)In spite of the civil war, the 18th National Sports Festibal was held successfully at District Abbottabad in collaboration with District Sports Office, Milestone and A STAR Project. Ninteen disabled organization and special schools participated in the festival. The detail is shown as following documents;
3rd Scavenging Activity at Ayub Medical College(Jun. 20, 2009)The third activity was held at Ayub Medical Collage, which is the largest medical college in south asia. DCO(Project Director) gave a briefing of the Project and the principal of the college welcomed this activity. The activity had started after A STAR Project staff explained about the purpose of the project. More than 40 students of Al-Huda School for the hearing impaired joined in the activity. Awareness must have been rised through it. "We can do it!"
Ayub Medical College has their own website, which introduces this activity.
District Sports Festival for Special People(Jun. 13, 2009)Sports Festibal for Special People was held at District Abbottabad, which was preparation for the National Festival planned on the end of the month. Seventy students with disabilities from two special schools and the staff of A STAR Project participated in the festival.
Project Opening Ceremony(May 29, 2009)There was a project opening ceremony held at Jalalbaba auditrium, Abbottabad. About 250 leader candidates of PWDs, students with disabilities and their family member and 100 stakeholders cerebrateded the opening of the project as not only participants, but also organizers. Note: Participants from Govt. and NGO at national and local level are Director General of Special Education (DGSE), Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education, District Coordination Officer (Project Director), District Officer of Social Welfare and Women Development Dept. from Govt. Sector, Zila Nazim & Union Council Nazim from Abbottabad, Milestone, STEP, Pakistan Foundation of Fighting Blindness from Disabled Peoples Organization, Representatives of local NGO working in Medical and Educational Sectors, Radio Pakistan, Pakistan Special Publisher and some local newspaper reporters from mass media.
2nd Scavenging Activity (May, 2009)The second activity was at the Jinnah Bagh. The project staff and the students from kingstone school for inclusive education participated in the activity. Jinnah Bagh is located near Abbottabad main bazar and the most suitable place for awareness raising on the disability and environmental issue. This activity will continue. Continuation makes it strong. The drawing of this months' handbill is made by student from Special Education Center, Federal Government, who took part in the last months' activity.
Project Logo had been developed based on drawings of students with disabilities (April, 2009)A STAR Project (Abbottabad Social participation Through Awareness Raising) is planning to have various kinds of awareness campaign and events to eliminate the prejudice and discrimination against PWDs and their families, in collaboration with the other departments of District Government, Abbottabad like education, health, sightseeing, environment, and local NGOs. We'd like to introduce a process of making the Logo of the Project, through the participation of the students with disabilities. It is not so difficult to develop an excellent and beautiful design of the Project logo. We could prepare it without human & financial resource and time delay, if did it by ourselves. What is important in this Project is the participation of PWDs as implememtaters. The process of the project logo making is as follows; Project staffs with disabilities had a visit at the school for the students with disabilities and explain the principal and teachers about the purpose, activities, and methods of the project. This process made their awareness on the disability issue to rise. Then students made drawings for the project logo. The project staff selected some drawings and developed the project logo based on these drawings. This project is process oriented, as mentioned above. The project doesn't take care of the speed, quality and quantity of the activities. All who joined the project do learn through the processes, which are experiences as identifying problems & cause, sharing & discussing these and solving. Sharing of these processes make this model project to extend to other areas. STAR Figure of a star is originated from the name of the Project, STAR (Social participation Through Awareness Raising) in English or SITARA (Social Inclusion Through Awareness Raising Activities) in Urdu. Also another reason is that "Tare Zameen Par", which is a famous film of success story of the student with developmental disability is utilized in the workshops for the project staff with disabilities. Subtitle of the film is "Every child is special". So why do people in Pakistan call PWDs and CWDs "Special"? Moon&Mountain Moon and star are symbols of the Islam. Two green mountains mean the nature of the beautiful Abbottabad.  Changing after the Assessment & Survey (April, 2009)"What is 'friend'?", they asked us… They didn't know the word "Friend"… I'd like to introduce a real story, which we've heard in the assessment & survey for physically challenged conducted in 2008. The situation & problem In the village not so far from the central city, there are two sisters with physical disabilities who had never been out from their house more than last 30 years. They can walk and go out from their house, because their physical disabilities are only in their upper limbs. They had not gone to relatives wedding party for cerebrating them, the central city for shopping and any functions for enjoying. Aged mother takes care not only two daughters, but also a son with intellectual disabilities. Their father had passed away long time ago and, other sons and daughters live separately. Mother and three live in the muddy house without roof and were ignored by their other family members. It seems that there are some intellectual disabilities caused by staying in house for a long time. One of the reasons of intellectual disability is the environment and surroundings in their life. Assessment sheet included the question about communication, two of which are "Can you write a letter to your friend?" and "What language do you use in your house?". Their answers are "What is friend?" and "We don't know the language. What do you mean?". That was all what we've seen. The reasons
- Lack of chance, in witch they could bee empowered Mother is poor widow and illiterate with three disabled children and other sons & daughters without disabilities live independently near their house. There was little relation and support with each other. It led the situation where three members with disabilities had no chance for education, leisure and daily living. Here, we can say that it is not so important for them to give some special skills, facility and financial support. They live in small world as their small house and don't know what' happened in the community.
Assessment by the Project Before launching Abbottabad Social participation Through Awareness Rising Project (Hereinafter refered as to A STAR Project), we conducted the preparatory study. One purpose of the study is to guess the effectiveness of the Assessment & Survey. Twenty assessment staffs gave the awareness on the disability issue to PWDs and their family members through in depth interview. In many cases, PWDs and their family's face were changing familiarly, smiley and happy after assessments.
Changing after the Assessment One month later, we had visited at their house again to follow up. There were incredible changes in their life. Firstly, one of their sisters had joined relatives wedding party twice in a month and their clothes became colorful and gorgeous! Secondly, the roof has been constructed and the house has been kept clean. Thirdly, one of their sisters told us, "I want to get married!". The effectiveness of the assessment & survey was beyond our expectations. Scavenging Activity (Apr. 18, 2009)The first activity has been done in the Simla Pahari, which is a little resport famoust in Abbottabad. Project staff and the students with disabilities from Special Education Centre, Federal Government joined this activity. It took two hours to clean the hill. Everybody knows that Shimla Pahari has not been kept clean in last ten years, because of some political reasons and a lack of awareness on environment. In the other hands, one of the policies of the district government is to make the beautiful Abbottabad city and its of the Project is to promote the social participation of PWDs. In these situation, we made a plan not only to hold awareness rising campaign event on the participation of PWDs, but also to make this city beautiful. The interview from 6 members had been telecasted at 6:30 pm on Radio Pakistan Abbottabad
How could staff with disabilities work? (March, 2009)"I want to join this project without salary!" one lady, who had never been out of her house after graduation, told me after working some days in field and joining weekly workshop on Friday. It was not so easy to identify and train the staff with disabilities in district level, who can work in the Project. Because there is no DPOs (Disabled People Organizations) and network & registration system of PWDs and, few chances for them to join the society and many factors leading to these issue. I'd like to introduce the process to launch and implement the assessment & survey in this project.
1. How to identify? Two study teams dispatched in 2007 & 2008 found the local resources in Abbottabad as follows. Staff with disabilities had been working in the field after orientation workshop and several days' practical work in the field. New staffs with disabilities were identified through the fieldwork by the trained staff with disabilities. The fieldwork abruptly extended the network of PWDs.
- Several Government & Non-Government orrggganizations in medical sector, like rehabilitation center, Limb center, PT department of hospital, which has information of human resource. - One female staff with disabilities as vvvocational teacher in Special Education Centre, Federal Government, who has some informal network of her friends with disabilities in her youth. - One DPO working in next city, Mansehraa,,, which has information of resource persons, lived in Abbottabad. 2. How to invite? Especially women with disabilities were tend to reject to join the Project as staff, who work in the field or office with men, because of socio-cultural background and lack of awareness on the disability issue. First step, we kindly invite them the weekly workshop after introducing our project. Second step, they share the workshop's experience and convince their parents and other family member who live together by themselves. Third step, female staff candidate with disabilities who are empowered through the field/office work and workshop, can have self-confidence.
3. How to train? We found it difficult to train the staff with disabilities, who are segregated and neglected not only in the society, but also in the house, no confidence, not educated, never been outside for long time… Weekly workshops prepared for them as following three sessions. The workshops are developed to learn the disability awareness, disability equality and disability issue easily for beginners through watching, listening, discussing, presenting, leading the group and playing.
Tale zamin par, Lagaan, Black, Ankeen, Born on the fourth of July…
2. Lecture on the disability issue and discussion with refreshment (10:00-11:00)
3. Practice or Group Discussion and presentation (11:00 - 12:30)
Assessment & Survey for Non-Disabled People(Feb. 2, 2009)District Government Abbottabad has launched the Assessment & Survey for Non-Disabled People in 12 Union Councils (UCs) in Abbottabad, which will continue until 31st March, 2009. Under the Project Director (DCO, Abbottabad) and the Project Manager (DO, Social Welfare & Women Development Department), more than 30 assessment staffs (50% of them are Physically Challenged, the others are family or relative of Physically Challenged) work in the field. 1. Purpose
1) Empowerment
2) Mainstreaming
3) Collecting basic Information
2. Schedule
3. Target
4. Method
A pair of interviewer and assistant is responsible of two UCs and has Assessment & Survey for ten Non-Disabled people per a day. All staffs get together at 8:30 and go to own responsible UCs by Carry Daba after short meeting. It is specially mentioned that two drivers in twelve are Physically Challenged. Twelve teams (pairs) have an interview on the road, at the house, in the bazaar and etc. Assessment & Survey sheet has four kinds of question, which includes (1) Basic Information, (2) Dairy Life, (3) Social Participation, (4) Thinking Disability Issue. The assessment staffs have an activity of Awareness Raising, for example, giving time to think about disability issue, sharing information on the disability issue during the interview. Also they collect the data of the Challenged (Persons with Disabilities) and their family at the same time, which is usable in the next step, Assessment & Survey on the four kinds of disabilities and leadership trainings. Assessment staffs are trained on every Friday. The Project will measure the achievement three years later based on this data.
Assessment Sheet for Non-Disabled People(English) download:Word(45KB) Project has been launched (Dec. 1, 2008)Government of Pakistan is about to launch the Project on the Promotion of Social Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Abbottabad. The project has been formulated after the workshops and discussions with stakeholders and the survey conducted from June to July 2008, by District Government, Abbottabad. The record of discussion has been signed by Federal, Provincial and District Government on September, 2008. The detail of the Project is as follows;
Project Duration: Dec. 2008 - Nov. 2011 (three years)
Outputs: There are following three features of this project in the technical corporation project.
1. Nothing about us without us. Persons with Disabilities are included in the Project as a project implementer, such as project staff, members of Project Steering Team, assessment staff and lecture of the training etc. This is one of the our policy on the support for persons with disabilities, that is, "Mainstreaming"
2. Project for all The target of the Project includes the four categories, that is, Physically, Visually, Hearing and Intellectually Challenged. All the activities, outputs and indicators of the Project refer to the ratio of gender/social balance, and inclusion of gender/social perspectives, as necessary. New vision, "Inclusive and Dynamic Development" is reflected in the Project.
3. Sustainability Local resources include human and physical resource in the country and South Asia are utilized for sustainable development. Through the Asia-Pacific Disability network built by APCD, resource persons who have disabilities will be invited as a lecture and facilitator for the training and workshop.
The activities of the Project in 1st year are assessment for Persons with Disabilities and their family. Assessment will be implemented by assessment staff, who are trained persons with disabilities and personal assistants. Through assessment, the Project develop the capacity of persons with disabilities, providing information, identifying persons with disabilities in rural area, search the leader candidate of persons with disabilities, peer counseling and collecting basic information of persons with disabilities.
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Mail to a.star.project@gmail.com
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