Project News

13th and 14th March 2018

The Project conducted a Training of Advocates on Social Model of Disability targeting 11 leaders with disabilities from Collins Chabane municipality, Vhembe district, Limpopo province. The training was facilitated by a Disability Equality Training (DET) facilitator, Ms. Miranda Lephoko (wheelchair user) who participated in the DET facilitators' training (2 weeks) in 2014, and has been conducting DET in Free State, etc.

The training in Okinawa, Japan was conducted in December last year, and participants from Limpopo province developed the action plan to expand Self-Help Group (SHG) of persons with disabilities to other 18 villages. The training of advocates on social model of disability was organised in order for leaders with disabilities in Limpopo to be able to facilitate advocacy activities on social model of disability by themselves for raising awareness in community. In this training, 2 JICA volunteers, Mr. Daiki Sakoda and Mr. Yusuke Okanemasa who work at the Day Care Centre of children / persons with disabilities in Makhado municipality, Limpopo province observed and supported participants, especially persons with visual impairments.

Through the various exercises, the training facilitator emphasised the importance of facilitation method in order for participants themselves to discover "disability" which is based on social model of disability and "action" to eliminate disability. In addition, participants developed training materials to be able to conduct advocacy activities on social model of disability in villages and did actual practice for the facilitation.

Ms. Rose said "It was an eye-opening. I will continuously conduct advocacy activities on social model of disability in the villages."

Ms Rose (Left) developed materials for advocacy activities on social model of disability

Person with disability developed advocacy material on social model of disability and Mr Sakoda, JICA volunteer (Right) supported

Person with disability practiced to facilitate advocacy activities on social model of disability and Mr Okanemasa, JICA volunteer (Right) supported