ZANZIBAR ASSOCIATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (ZAPDD)

Transcription

1 ZANZIBAR ASSOCIATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (ZAPDD) TRAINING WORKSHOP REPORT RIGHT TO DECIDE TRAINING TO ZAPDD PDDs AND PARENTS IN ZANZIBAR December, 2013

2 RIGHT TO DECIDE TRAINING WORKSHOP IN UNGUJA 1.0 Introduction Zanzibar Association for People with Developmental Disabilities (ZAPDD) is a nongovernmental organization that was established to promote the welfare of people with developmental disabilities. Its vision is to create a society for all which is informed, inspired and responsive to the right, inclusion and needs of people with developmental disabilities. Among others, ZAPDD is engaging in lobbying and advocacy, awareness creation, mobilization and empowerment as well as networking. People with developmental disabilities are systematically denied the right to self determination but there have been some moves to model of support which enable supported decision making instead of substitute decision making. Hence, Inclusion international s global campaign, The Right to Decide, is designed to get individuals, families and communities talking about making decisions and supported decision making. This discussion is about our daily lives, decisions give us voice and control in our lives. It is a discussion about how we make those decisions. PDDs are realizing that their right to make decisions is essential for being seen and treated equally in community, and having voice. On other hand, there is the International World Congress for The Right to decide which will be held in Nairobi June In this regards, PDDs are required to be prepared as self advocates for the forth coming world event. Therefore, ZAPDD has decided to conduct two days workshop training (Unguja and Pemba) for the youth (PDDs) and their parents to equip them with necessary knowledge and understanding on how to make independent decision. The training was facilitated by the three facilitators in Unguja and Pemba. This report describes the process and discussion on Right to Decide training workshop conducted in Unguja and Pemba for the aim of imparting Parents and PDDs necessary knowledge and skills for decision - making. The workshop was organized by Zanzibar Association for People with Developmental Disabilities (ZAPDD) with financial support from NFU and facilitated by technical resource persons from ZAPDD, where a total of 11 PDDs (7 males and 4 females) 5 parents (2 males and 3 females) attended the workshop in Unguja and a total of 9 PDDS (7 males and 2 females) and 4 parents (3 males 1 female) in Pemba. The training centers used to conduct the workshops were Jang ombe School Unguja on 17/12 to 18/12/14 and Michakaini for Pemba on 30/12/2014 to 31/12/ Objective of the Workshop The objective of these training workshops is to empower the youth (PDDs) to have determination on the right to decide and parents support them on right decision making.

3 3.0 Participants Youth in Unguja Mr. Hafidhi Seif Suleiman Ms. Maryam Bakari Ali Mr. Muhammed Kesi Dadik Ms. Asha Said Ali Ms. Nasra Khamis Thani Mr. Mahafudhi Hamad Juma Mr. Muhammed Hamid Zam Mr. Muhammed Ramadhani Mr. Musa Haji Musa Mr. Hamadi Ali Bakari Ms. Warda Haji Ramadhani Youth in Pemba Mr. Maulid Ali Kassim Ms. Asha Hassan Mussa Mr. Khamis Ridhiwan Khamis Mr. Ali Khamis Haroub Mr. Omar Zubeir Idd Mr. Khamis Ali Faki Mr. Mbaraka Awesu Muhammed Ms. Nassra Salim Said Parents in Unguja Mr. Seif Suleiman Seif Ms. Sada Hamadi Ali Mr. Hamid Khatib Suleiman Ms. Tamasha Salum Khamis Mr. Seif Suleyum Seif Parents in Pemba Mr. Zubeir Idd Mohd Ms. Fatma Omar Ali Mr. Ali Mohd Haji Ms. Maryam Said Juma 4.0 Facilitation The training workshop was facilitated by Ms. Mwanakombo Khamis, Ms. Salama Moh d Ame and Mr. Tifly Nahoda in Unguja and Ms. Habiba Yussuf Alawy, Ms Asha Nassor Ali and Mr. Mkubwa Ahmed Omar from Zanzibar Association for the people with developmental disabilities. The facilitators have long term expertise and experience in Advocacy and Lobbying. Apart from the above said knowledge and experience, they are professional teachers and have a good understanding of youth with Developmental Disabilities and its challenges toward the rights to decide. 6.0 Methodology Used After self introduction of the subject to the participants, Inclusion International s Global Campaign on Decision Making was explained in detail. The discussion was made possible by using special tool - Right to Decide toolkit provided by Inclusion international ( The tool explained the role of facilitators and note takers and questions needed to ask youths and parents.

4 7.0 Result It started by the facilitators and note-takers introduced themselves and explaining the purpose of discussion, hence it had given participants a chance to introduce themselves. During the discussion, the following observation was made on youth with developmental disabilities: Most of the participants are able to get up themselves and doing personal care such as brushing, cleaning room or house, combing, washing, wearing cloths and making of beds. Some of them expressed that their voice is restricted because they are denied the right to make decisions in their lives Some were not treated equally in community in making decision They are not respected by law like everyone else Sometime, PDDs lack support in making own decision on important things such as the right to vote, to marry etc Also are restricted to participate in decision making for family occasions or community issues Personal Stories of some PDDs:- Hafidh Seif Suleiman My name is Hafidhi Seif Suleiman, 21 years old, single; I am a shop keeper, selling kitchen and household effects. The idea of opening the shop came from my family and myself when I went to self advocate trip in USA, I saved enough money from the trip and additional contribution from my family I managed to open the shop. My father is the one who look after the shop and sometimes I work with him to give stuff to customers. The money is kept by my father and for whatever I want to spend to, I have to ask him. Maryam Bakari Ali My name is Maryam Bakari Ali, single, I am a baby sitter, I got some money for looking after babies, the money which I received from my job is kept by my mother and whenever I want to spend for something I have to ask her. Mohamed Kesi Sadik My name is Moh d Kesi Sadik, 20 years old, single, I am a livestock keeper, I started to keep one cow which it had been given by my mother's sister and now I have four cows. I make money by selling milk. In addition, I am employed in a vegetable farm. My roles here is watering the vegetables. My money is kept by my mother and whenever I want to spend it, I have to ask her. She respects my decision. Asha Said Ali My name is Asha Said Ali, 25 years old, single, a launder, washing peoples clothes. Some people bring their clothes to me (home) and for other people I have to collect the clothes from their houses. The money which I receive from this job, is kept by mother. If I need to buy something, I have to get permission from my mother.

5 Maulid Ali Kassim My name is Maulid Ali Kassim, I m 30years old, I live at Wawi Chake-Chake Pemba. I have been educated to form II class. This education will help me to know my right and to make decision for my business. I have a wife and one daughter. I have managed to build my small house using my savings which I earned from my petty business of selling baby's clothes at Chake-Chake Market. I thank ZAPDD for support and encouragement. My family and community involve me in different aspect of life. However, in most cases I make my own decisions but sometimes they decide for me. Observations on parents were: They believe that some PDDs are difficult to achieve independent decision making and self determination They fear for the security of their children in particular on sexual violence and abuse They are afraid of bad matters to happen when parents are unable to care for them Also they feel that PDDs are excluded in the society and usually do not get necessary support they need because of the challenges of being developmentally disabled Some parents are poor; they cannot afford to fully support them 8. Conclusion The right to make decisions and have control in one s life. It is very important for everyone in this world. Therefore, families and communities should find ways to support PDDs to express their opinions and make own decisions. Thus, it should taken as a critical issue and mainstream in our planning processes. Knowing that, the parents are the greatest advocates for changing attitudes of their families and communities. Hence, more efforts are needed to build their capacity in order to achieve inclusive society.