Archive for category: Disability

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Disability and Poverty in Togo

Disability and Poverty in TogoIn Togo, a country where poverty intertwines deeply with social stigma, the plight of persons with disabilities has gained increasing attention, particularly during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus’s spread exacerbated existing inequalities, striking hardest at the most vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, who face heightened risks due to systemic exclusion from health care, education and economic opportunities. During this global health crisis, one of the most affected demographics has been youth with disabilities.

Already at a disadvantage due to often lacking access to education or vocational training, these young individuals found themselves further marginalized in the job market. In response, the United Nations Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a key player, aligning efforts with the Fédération Togolaise des Associations des Personnes Handicapées (FETAPH) to tackle these issues. This partnership focuses on increasing vocational training accessibility and adjusting curricula to be inclusive of sensory disabilities.

FETAPH’s Initiatives

FETAPH’s initiatives include conducting sensitization workshops to foster employer openness toward hiring people with disabilities and collaborating with companies to provide necessary equipment and training placements. These efforts to address disability and poverty in Togo are crucial in a societal landscape where stigma and discrimination are rampant, significantly affecting the livelihoods of disabled persons.

Moreover, the push for a national fund to support the training and professional integration of persons with disabilities is gaining momentum. This fund would not only address immediate employability gaps but also offer long-term support structures for sustainable development. Advocacy for such a fund was bolstered by the commendation from the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which noted ongoing revisions to Togolese law aimed at enhancing social protection for people with disabilities.

The committee also highlighted grave concerns, such as inhumane treatment leading to fatalities among children with disabilities and the persistent cultural practices that underpin such abuses. Questions were raised about protective measures against abandonment and harmful traditional practices like forced marriages and infanticide.

In response, Togolese officials pointed to legislative strides such as the prohibition of discrimination against persons with disabilities in the Children’s Code and severe penalties for those who abandon children due to disability. Despite these legal frameworks, implementation remains inconsistent and many individuals with disabilities continue to face significant barriers to integration and acceptance within their communities.

The role of international and local advocacy in shaping policy and public opinion regarding disability and poverty in Togo cannot be understated. The ongoing dialogue between Togolese authorities and international bodies underscores the pressing need to transform societal attitudes and institutional practices. This dialogue is crucial for ensuring that the rights of persons with disabilities are not only recognized on paper but earnestly protected and facilitated.

About Children With Disabilities in Togo

Additionally, in Togo, children living with disabilities represent one of the most vulnerable segments of the population. This vulnerability is not only marked by poverty but also compounded by significant social isolation and discrimination. Recognizing the urgent need to address these disparities, the United Nations Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) initiated a project in 2012 specifically aimed at enhancing the lives of Togolese children with disabilities.

Firstly, it aimed at harmonizing Togo’s domestic laws with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to ensure that legal frameworks were not only compliant but also supportive of the rights of children with disabilities. Secondly, the project focused on expanding educational opportunities for children with disabilities, particularly in the Kara and Savanes regions. By fostering an environment where children with disabilities are given the tools to thrive, such as access to tailored education and health care, the program aimed to break the cycle of exclusion and poverty.

However, while these initiatives are commendable, they are just the beginning of what needs to be a sustained, multi-faceted effort to integrate persons with disabilities into Togolese society fully. Continuous monitoring, adequate funding and persistent advocacy are essential to ensure that the legal and institutional frameworks not only exist but are actively enforced. They have to effectively contribute to the everyday lives of those whom they aim to protect, who suffer from the compounded effects of disability and poverty in Togo.

Conclusion

While the effort to combat disability and poverty in Togo has been commendable, especially regarding efforts to align its policies with international conventions on disability rights, significant challenges remain. The dual crises of COVID-19 and systemic exclusion have highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive strategies that address both immediate vulnerabilities and long-term social integration. Moving forward, the success of these endeavors will hinge on the sustained collaboration between the government, civil society and international partners to create an inclusive society where persons with disabilities can live with dignity and equal opportunities.

– Avery Fuller

Avery is based in Princeton, NJ, US and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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4 Organizations Working to Provide Disability Support in Singapore

Disability Support in SingaporeAccording to the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD), 3% of Singapore’s population has a disability. This group of people endures societal exclusion and a lack of consistent investments, which inhibits their opportunities to get ahead, succeed and contribute to the economy. However, several organizations are working to provide disability support in Singapore as individuals work their way up the economic ladder and stay out of poverty.

SPD

SPD is a nonprofit established in 1964 to help people with disabilities maximize their potential and integrate into society. This organization is funding programs that provide services to people of all ages with disabilities and their families to ensure that they have all of the resources and tools needed to reach goals and attain economic wealth.

One program focuses on delivering early intervention services as soon as possible in order to enhance the outcomes of children with disabilities. This is particularly when it comes to succeeding in the school system just as much as children without disabilities.

Another program focuses on providing occupation therapy and speech therapy to people with disabilities, with the goal of them learning to manage their disabilities. Furthermore, SPD is dedicated to offering disability support in Singapore by equipping individuals with the job training and essential skills required to secure well-paying positions within the private sector.

SG Enable

SG Enable, established by the “Ministry of Social and Family Development in 2013,” is another nonprofit organization working to provide disability support in Singapore, particularly for those with visual or hearing difficulties to live as personally and financially independently as possible.

One way that SG Enables is doing this is through job development programs, which concentrate on creating jobs for people with disabilities and linking them to jobs within other organizations. Another way that this organization is working to achieve this objective is through its job training programs, which are designed to provide people with disabilities with the skills needed to raise their likelihood of qualifying for jobs in the private sector.

Disabled People’s Association

The Disabled People’s Association is a Singapore nonprofit “organization for people with disabilities run by people with disabilities.” It is also working to help people with disabilities with their education and career aspirations as well as with transportation needs to get to work and school.

The organization provides disability support in Singapore through legal representation and advocacy for their rights. This effort impacts their activities in education, in the workplace and society as a whole. It also delivers workshops to train disability advocates on how to properly represent people with disabilities and stand up against any form of institutional seclusion from society.

Furthermore, the organization advocates for policy reforms. It also communicates with elected officials in the country as well as with other influential organizations like SG Enable to continue to expand the rights and liberties of people with disabilities.

Touch Community Services Organization

Touch Community Services is another not-for-profit initiative in Singapore. The group partners with other disability organizations in Singapore to deliver resources and programs for people with disabilities. Touch Community Services’ mission is to adhere to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The group believes that can only be achieved if the health, safety and success of people with disabilities are advocated for.

This mindset plays a role for the organizations continuing to provide resources to those who care for people with disabilities through workshops and support groups. Since its inception, it has touched nearly 280,000 leaves, attracting 14,000 volunteers and its Wellness Group program has helped more than 164,000 people with cyber and mental fitness.

– Ryan Patrick 

Ryan is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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The Impact of Poverty in the Maldives

Poverty in the MaldivesThe Maldives, a South Asian country, has managed to elevate itself from a middle-income status despite facing significant geographical challenges. In the past five years, the economy has experienced an average growth rate of 4.5% per year, which is a considerable improvement mainly due to the booming tourism industry. The transport, communication and construction sectors have also contributed to this growth. The Maldives heavily relies on tourism to grow its per capita income. However, this industry is quite risky. Therefore, to maintain its growth and overcome the challenges of poverty, the country needs to have a more balanced economy. As of 2019, about 20,000 people or 5.4% of the population in Maldives, lived below the national poverty line, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Although the Maldives has one of the lowest poverty rates in South Asia, concerns remain regarding the vast differences in per capita income, literacy rates, access to health and education services, levels of industrialization and relatively high-income inequality. Separately, as a small island developing state, the effects of changing weather patterns and the risk to the tourism sector can also be a big concern if not addressed.

The Impact of the 2004 Tsunami

The impact of the 2004 tsunami was devastating. The financial damage was estimated to be around $470 million, which accounted for 44% of the country’s GDP in 2004. This estimate, however, does not include the environmental costs, such as the loss of topsoil and land that was washed away into the sea. The tourism industry was severely affected, with a 34% shrinkage and the economy as a whole shrank by 8.7%.

Despite the impacts of the tsunami and global financial crisis, the Maldives government reduced poverty by implementing the regional development policy. This helped distribute the social and economic infrastructure equally and resulted in the country bringing national poverty to 15% in 2010 from 21% in 2003. 

UNICEF’s Impact in the Maldives

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) collaborated with the National Bureau of Statistics and Oxford University to create the country’s first Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), helping the government identify vulnerable children and provide assistance. Additionally, it developed a child-focused MPI to identify issues in education, health and future living standards for children in the Maldives.

To increase children’s access to education, UNICEF has also partnered with other organizations to “educate local island councils, parents, school staff and members of other institutions to promote disabled children’s right to education.” Furthermore, the organization supports the Maldives government to research other challenges affecting children in the nation. This is in addition to providing evidence-based solutions to some issues, such as child marriage, among young people in the Maldives.

– Mayra Sahu
Photo: Flickr

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Bolivians Without Disabilities: Helping Poor Amputees in Bolivia

Bolivians Without DisabilitiesBolivia has seen a reduction in poverty. However, current statistics suggest that 11% of people live in extreme poverty and 36.3% live in moderate poverty. This may be due to the fact that Bolivia suffers from 160 major weather conditions, which result in food shortages and lower amounts of drinkable water. Yet, conditions are worse for people with disabilities in Bolivia. The Borgen Project spoke with Matthew Pepe, the founder and president of Bolivians Without Disabilities, about the life of amputees in Bolivia and explained the help the organization provides to these people.

The Bolivians Without Disabilities

“Our main focus is to work with nonprofit Bolivian prosthetic organizations that provide prostheses to low-income Bolivian amputees,” says Pepe. The Bolivians Without Disabilities accomplish this by collaborating with Bolivian companies that physically construct artificial limbs and provide these to amputees.

Bolivians Without Disabilities gives monetary support and teaching resources to associations that help people with disabilities in Bolivia. This greatly enhances those with disabilities in a physical and mental sense by:

  • Having the opportunities to help their relatives and their local communities.
  • Improving their self-confidence and job prospects.

Why Are They Important

Pepe describes the life of an amputee in Bolivia, stating, “Living with a disability in Bolivia is not easy, especially if you are poor. Streets and sidewalks are often crowded and very narrow with lots of dips and broken concrete, making walking, even with two good legs, very difficult.” If this is not bad enough, experiencing an amputation can cause despair and unhappiness due to the sense of loss of autonomy and self-perception.

Furthermore, when asked if the Bolivian government was doing enough to help amputees, Pepe answered, “Definitely not, but I am not sure that I can fault them very much since the issue is largely financial.” Indeed, Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Additionally, the Bolivian government has failed to pass adequate legislation that identifies discrimination based on disability.

Disability is a critical problem since people who have gone through an amputation suffer terrible financial issues and poverty as they encounter more hurdles to health care. This is unsurprising since Pepe explains that “Social stigma is also a serious concern. Disabled people suffer serious discrimination.” In comparison with the general population, amputees are more likely to experience inadequate access to health care.

Furthermore, people with an amputation are more likely to be unemployed. As stated by Our World in Data, in 2022 in Bolivia, the unemployment rate is 5.16% among amputees, in comparison with 3.81% among the general population. Pepe explained this by saying, “It is also very difficult to get a job if you are disabled. Many jobs are very physical and you need all your hands, feet and abilities to work at most jobs.”

The Impact on Poverty

According to Pepe, “The government also does very little to provide prosthetic limbs.” Pepe continues, “I think that I fairly believe that the little prosthetic clinic that I created provides far more prosthetic limbs than the practically non-existent government attempts to provide limbs.” With the Bolivians Without Disabilities intervening and providing low-income amputees a prosthetic limb, this will create a positive change and will improve their well-being while decreasing their chances of falling into the poverty cycle. This is because they will be encouraged to participate in education and employment activities.

The Bolivians Without Disabilities has shared many personal stories. Here are two examples:

  1. Pabio is a Bolivian man and while he was working, he accidentally inserted his left arm into a mechanical machine. As a result, his arm was amputated because it was severely crushed. After the incident, Pabio was unable to work and he felt depressed. After Bolivians Without Disabilities provided the financial means to construct an artificial arm and hand for Pabio, his job prospects improved.
  2. A woman named Mariana had a job accident while working at a sawmill. One day, she accidentally cut off her hand since there were no safety precautions. After this incident, Mariana was miserable and dependent on others on a day-to-day basis. After receiving an artificial arm from Bolivians Without Disabilities, Mariana’s self-confidence improved. She hoped to study petrochemistry and find a job.

Looking Ahead

The interview with Pepe provided a snapshot of the life of an amputee in Bolivia. Stigma and discrimination are felt more by disabled people and they find it harder to live in Bolivia due to the little help provided by the government. The work done by Bolivians Without Disabilities is vital to help people with disabilities so they can avoid the poverty cycle by improving their job prospects and self-confidence.

– James McAlinden

James is based in Rosehearty, Scotland and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Tackling Poverty Among People With Disabilities in Niger

People With Disabilities in NigerIn Niger, disability affects a significant portion of the population, with approximately 4.2% of individuals living with disabilities, according to the African Disability Rights Yearbook. Sadly, these individuals often face social exclusion, hindering their ability to thrive and participate fully in economic activities. However, various initiatives are underway to promote inclusivity and empower people with disabilities in Niger. From targeted programs focusing on children and girls to collaborative efforts with international organizations, the country is striving to ensure equal opportunities for all its citizens, regardless of ability.

Societal Inclusion as a Strategy in Niger

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is actively expanding its efforts in Niger to support individuals affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters. The organization is working to facilitate the socioeconomic advancement of people with disabilities through greater societal inclusion. It involves conducting research studies to identify the specific needs of individuals with disabilities and understand the barriers they encounter in achieving success when these needs are unmet.

The objective of these studies is to foster broader societal awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities. HI collaborates closely with local organizations, institutions and humanitarian actors to advocate for the integration of people with disabilities into society. Additionally, the organization is dedicated to ensuring that children with disabilities have access to primary education and the opportunity to pursue secondary education upon completion of their studies.

Programs for People With Disabilities in Niger

The government of Niger, along with international institutions, has implemented initiatives to support education and employment programs for individuals with disabilities. The Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project, backed by $230 million, aims to improve educational access by constructing learning facilities, training educators and refining teaching methods nationwide.

Specifically, the project allocates funds for the construction of boarding schools and classrooms to facilitate girls’ access to education. Additionally, the Disability Inclusion Strategy, integrated into the International Organization for Migrant’s existing efforts, outlines the rights and needs of individuals with disabilities. This strategy emphasizes enhancing educational opportunities, particularly for girls who historically faced barriers to schooling.

Niger is committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have the necessary resources and opportunities to thrive and contribute to the economy. Furthermore, initiatives such as the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, one of many policies in Niger, strive for equal opportunities and societal integration by aligning with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

International Organization for Migration

In Niger, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has organized various initiatives to connect individuals with disabilities to employment opportunities. One notable event was the observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2019. Collaborating with local organizations in Agadez and Tahoua, the aim was to promote the societal inclusion of people with disabilities as outlined in the 2030 Agenda. The event featured conferences, presentations by local organizations, film screenings, bicycle races and poetry readings, all aimed at fostering integration and awareness.

– Ryan Patrick
Photo: Flickr

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Disability and Poverty in Greece

Disability and Poverty in GreeceDisability and poverty can affect many areas around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 1.3 billion people have disabilities worldwide. Unfortunately, many people with disabilities often suffer from poverty as well. The combination of these two forces is a plight a lot harsher than many think. Disability and poverty in Greece is a struggle, but work is being done to address the challenges. 

The Link Between Disability and Poverty in Greece

The country has particular issues with access when it comes to disability and poverty in Greece. According to a policy brief done by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2021, people with disabilities deal with problems in getting the appropriate health care they need. The report cites how people have to resort to private health care because of the lack of public health care. Private health care is generally more expensive and is an option that impoverished people likely do not have.

Greece also has issues with children who have disabilities. Children who have what is described as physical disabilities often do not have the correct equipment to support them in classrooms. The education system in Greece also lacks sufficient personnel to help children who have physical and mental disabilities.

The theme of access for people with disabilities appears to extend to various areas in Greece. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Confederation of Disabled People Greece reported in 2020 that there was a lack of assistance provided to physically disabled individuals who were confined to their homes during the crisis.

In Greece, the majority of people with disabilities face challenges due to inadequate access to physical buildings. This encompasses a lack of access to buildings, transportation and mainstream areas. It’s crucial to highlight that, according to the U.S. Department of State, such access is mandated by law. Further, according to the report, some governmental agencies within Greece stated that certain work companies excluded people who have disabilities from jobs. This includes hiring boards looking over people who have disabilities.

Actions to Help

Tactics like these are what inadvertently cause people with disabilities to fall into instances of poverty. The disability unemployment rate rose to 31.1% in 2018 from 8.9% in 2002, with predictions of the pandemic to increase the number, according to the European Commission report on disability equality in 2021.

Greece is working to solve the issue of disability and poverty in the country. In 2021, the government launched the Child Guarantee Program in partnership with UNICEF. The program is designed to support children who have disabilities in getting the quality social services they need. Together for Children, a network of different aid organizations, also provided aid for those with intellectual disabilities.

The initiative has contacted more than 2000 families to help these young people. The Upraise Disability project also helped many people with disabilities in terms of online access. The project helped around 17 people get the assistance they needed through online programs, including things like access to their therapy, among other things, during the pandemic.

– Madison McCray
Photo: Flickr