Through the workshops the local government administration got a complete picture about disability as well as UN CRPD and their responsibilities in this discipline. They also assured to provide possible supports to the Disabled Self Help Group. Different renowned national newspapers covered the workshops.

•  Workshop with Journalists both electronics and print media

2(Two) workshops were arranged respectively on November 3 and 12 November 2009 at YMCA Conference Hall, Savar and Dhamrai Upazilla Auditorium for Journalists of national News Papers and print media to promote the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 50 participants were present in each workshop. Mr. Ashraf Khan, City Editor of a renowned newspaper attended the Program as Chief Guest. At Dhamrai Upazilla Mr. Ashis Kumar Dey, Parliament and Law Affairs Reporter was present as Chief Guest. Board Members of Access Bangladesh , NGO representatives & Persons with disabilities were also present on that occasion. The Key Note Paper of the Workshop highlighted on how the Journalists of print & electronic media would take part on implementation of UN-CRPD in Bangladesh .

Various TV channels and national newspapers covered the workshops. The workshops raised a big awareness among journalists. They knew from the program abut the UN CRPD. They realized that they should positively co-operate the person with disabilities to get their rights from government as well as to get honorable respect from others as a human being. They promised to highlight them through their writings.

c) Workshop with government officials

A workshop was arranged on November 11 2009 at Savar Upazilla Auditorium with all government officers to promote the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 50 participants were present in the workshop. Mr Rabbi Miah, Upazilla Executive Officer was present as Chief Guest of the workshop.

Journalists & Persons with disabilities were also present on that occasion. The key note paper of the Workshop emphasized on how the Upazilla government officers would take part on implementation of UN-CRPD at Upazilla level. Through the workshop government officials described the undertaken initiatives of government towards the persons with disabilities and how the facilities could be accessed.

•  Training for Self Help Groups

Access Bangladesh Foundation arranged 3(three) training programs from 24-26 October, 2009 for capacity building of the members of the Executive Committee of Savar and Dhamrai Disabled Self Help Groups at YMCA Training Centre, Savar, Dhaka. The training topics were a) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2 nd level training) Disability Welfare Act 2001 and its implementation in Bangladesh and c) Leadership development. A short training also arranged about capacity building of Self Help Group leaders on how to organize seminar, workshop, press conference, round table discussion etc. At the closing ceremony of the program, Mr. Roknl Haq Savar Upazilla Social Services Officer was present as a Chief Guest. In his speech he highlighted the facilities that Bangladesh Government has taken for the disabled people. He also assured to provide possible support to the Self-Help Group. Albert Mollah, Ms. Mohua Paul, and Trainer S M Saifur Rohman also addressed in the event. Mr. Imran Khan, President of Savar Disabled Self-Helf Group as well as Ms. Eva Islam Executive Member of Dhamrai Disabled Self-Help Group enlightened about the benefits of the training.

Donation made by Rotary Club Eshkaton Dhaka

Rotary Club Eshkaton Dhaka donated three sewing machines and a wheelchair to Access Bangladesh on Saturday 31 October 2009 . Besides Persons with Disabilities Rotarian M. Mujibor Rahman, President of the Club, Rotarian Hafiz U. Biplob, Secretary, President Elected Rotarian Shafiq U. Ahmed, P.P. DR. Kazi Rezaul Haque, Ms. Sabiha Shafiq and for Access Bangladesh Mr. Albert Mollah, Executive Director as well as Ms. Mohua Paul, Director Resource Mobilization was present on that occasion.

Mohua Paul during her speech to mark the day of International Women Day-2009 on 8 th March. A daily newspaper named “Vorar Kagag”, published the news. The theme of the Day is “Women and men united to end violence against women and grills.”

On 10 th March, 2009 Access Bangladesh presented UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) in the partners forum of Australian Baptist World Aid Bangladesh (An international donor organization) . 35 participants from different partners attended the meeting. Access Bangladesh is trying to involve others to be associated with implementation of UN CRPD in Bangladesh .  

On 11 th March, 2009 Access Bangladesh organized a day long gathering for Disabled Hawkers and Disabled Small Entrepreneur with the financial support of Maleka Welfare Trust”. The main sessions of the program were life sharing, games, and culture events.  30 members of disabled hawkers club, 35 members of disabled small entrepreneur group in savar area and other trained girls of Access Bangladesh participated in the program. All participants enjoyed the events a lot and the program was ended with distributing prizes.

Rozina, a blind member of hawkers club is singing by playing violin which is provided by Access Bangladesh | Games Session: Through ball in the basket

The 1 st Annual General Meeting of Access Bangladesh was held on 27 th March, 2009 . It was a successful meeting for us. The General Assembly considered the activity report of the previous year and approved the activity plan and budget for this year.

Training

Access Bangladesh organized 4(four) training programs for capacity building of the members of the Executive Committee of Savar and Dhamrai Disabled Self Help Groups at YMCA Training Centre, Savar, Dhaka and Dhamrai Disabled Self Help Group Office.

Capacity building on Disability and Self Help Group

Training was organized on Disability and Self Help Groups on 8 th July, 2009 at Dhamrai Disabled Self Help Group office.

Ms. Faijunnesa, Abdus Salam and Albert Mollah conducted the training program. 26 disabled people from Self Help Groups participated in the training program.

In the 1st session Ms. Faijunnessa discussed about disability, nature of disability, way of identification, prevention of disability, present status of disability at state level. Mr. Abdus Salam highlighted on Self Help Group and its importance for their own development, way of organizing disabled people, role of SHG for establishment their rights in the context of UN CRPD. In the last session, Mr. Albert Mollah shared details on objective of Disability Rights Fund, and specific project activities of Dhamrai and Savar Disabled Self Help Groups.

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

Training on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was arranged on 26 th July, 2009

Mr. Saifur Islam, trainer of National Grassroots Disability Organization (NGDO) who has a long experience in the field of training for grassroots level disabled people conducted the training. 28 disabled people from Self Help Groups participated in the training program. 2(two) representatives from Disability Rights Fund Partner organization in Bangladesh including Mr. Shamsur Rahman from NGDO and Mr. Raihan from ARS also participated in the training program. The training covered the various important issues relating to CRPD i.e background of CRPD, present condition of disabled people in family, society and state level, article-wise discussion on CRPD, importance of UN CRPD, way of implementation, planning of individual participants and evaluation of training program.

Advocacy skills

Training was held on 27 th July, 2009 to increase the Advocacy Skills of the Self Help Group leaders.

Mr. Saifur Islam, trainer of National Grassroots Disability Organization (NGDO) conducted the training. 28 disabled people from Self Help Groups were present in the training program. Important issues relating to Advocacy i.e definition, considerable factors relating to advocacy, way of eradicating conflict, qualities of a good advocacy worker and advocacy strategy were discussed in the training.

hrough these trainings the participants have acquired knowledge and skills which will help them to organize disabled people in the community and to work for establishment their rights. The training also helped them on how to manage Self Help Group with maintaining transparency and accountability.

Organizational & Financial Management

Training on Organizational & Financial Management was organized on 28 th July, 2009 .

The training was conducted by Mr. Mamunur Islam, Trainer and Mr. Albert Mollah, Executive Director. 23 disabled people from Self Help Groups participated in the training program. The training covered the various issues of organizational and financial management aspect of the organization including a question answer part after each session of the training.

Awareness raising program

Access Bangladesh Foundation arranged awareness raising programs on disability issues:

a) An awareness raising program was held at Asset School , Joypura, Dhamrai on 3 rd August, 2009 . A total of 80 students (Male students 50 and female students 30) from Class Eight, Nine and Ten attended in the awareness raising program. Principal of the School Mr. S M Reza Mojib is himself a disabled and he is very supportive to work for the disabled people.

Mohua Paul, Shahinur Islam, Rowson Ali, Vice-President of Dhamrai Disabled Self Help Group delivered speech on disability, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the role of school in implementing UN CRPD especially education for children with disabilities.

In his speech the Principal told that he will ensure to establish his school a disabled friendly one. He will encourage disabled children to be admitted at his school and provide necessary support in this regard. He will speak about disability especially Article 24-Education at any forum when he gets opportunity. On the National and International Disability Day, he will share about the significance of the day with all students of his school.

The President of Dhamrai Disabled Self Help Group, Mr. Sottendhar thanked everybody for attending the program.

 b) Awareness raising program on disability was organized at Sunflower Model Academy , Savar, on August 26, 2009 . A total of 220 students (Male 140 and female 80), 18 teachers and 15 parents of the students attended the awareness raising program.

Mr. Albert Mollah delivered speech on disability, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the role of school in implementing UN CRPD especially education for children with disabilities. Program Officer Mr. Shahinur Islam talked about the causes and prevention of disability.

Principal of the School Mr. Sk. Md. Motaleb Hossain is very cooperative towards disabled people. In his speech the Principal told that he ensured his school a disabled friendly one. He encourages disabled children always to be admitted at his school and provides support in this regard. At present 3 (three) disabled students are studying at his school. He will speak about disability especially Article 24-Education at any forum when he gets opportunity. On the National and International Disability Day, he will share about the significance of the day with all students of his school.

Finally, The President of Savar Self Help Group, Mr. Imran Hossain thanked everybody for attending the program and he also thanked the School Management Committee for allowing us to organize the program.

c) Program Officer Md. Shahinur Islam shared the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) among students of different departments of Jahangirnagar University , Savar, Dhaka . It was organized on 27 th August, 2009 at Teacher Student Centre (TSC) premises of Jahangirnagar University .

Photographer

Shahinur Islam, Program Officer, Access Bangladesh