Disability Mainstreaming Workshop was held in Morogoro from 3rd to 7th August 2009. It was organized by SHIVYAWATA in collaboration with the Programme Management and Facilitation Unit, a secretariat organ of the EU-funded Non-State Actors Support Programme.The workshop was funded by the European Commission (EC) through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs. The EC Head of Delegation (HoD), Ambassador Tim Clarke, opened the workshop, which was well attended. Here is his speech, which he delivered at the opening session.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure for me to participate today, at this very momentous occasion of officiating the mainstreaming training/workshop for people with disability. Nina furahi kuwa pamoja nanyi asubuhi ya leo.
This event is very important as it draws attention to the needs of one of the most vulnerable groups in Tanzania, people with disability. Disabled people often don’t have access to rehabilitation services and often unaware of the few services that are available for them. Furthermore, they are often faced with a high level of stigma and discrimination and are therefore not able to enjoy the same rights as other people, which make them realize their full potential. It is shocking and sad to know that the majority of people with disability in developing countries are living with impairments that are actually curable or can at least be treated in order to raise the quality life of the affected persons substantially.
Even in the country I come from, a lot needs to be done. Disabled people cannot travel on the London underground metro station—they have no proper access. My own father in-law caught polio in a prison of war camp and had to spend the latter of his life in a wheelchair. He hated it.
I am told that this mainstreaming training/workshop is the first of its kind for people with disability in Tanzania. For this, I would like to congratulate all those who were responsible for organizing this workshop for their commitment, dedication, and for their professionalism with which they have approached this whole process and now bringing it to fruition. Hongereni sana. The hope for this workshop is of course to develop skills and to raise awareness of disabled issues in the communities they live in. Siku njema huonekana asubuhi.
The European Commission is very proud to support the people of Tanzania; we provide a substantial amount of budget support to the national budget and to key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, communication and transport, trade and regional integration. We also support some disability projects. Last year through the Youth with Disability Community Project based in Tanga, we financed the community based rehabilitation programme with advocacy component that led to the European Commission, since through these projects we can provide needed support to the most disadvantaged group in Tanzania, and see the immediate impact of our support in this country.
Watu wenye ulemavu wana haki sawa kama wengine. Kwa kiasi Fulani ba-a-dhi ya watu huwadharau walemavu. Hii si sahihi kabisa. Kuna watu wengi wenye ulemavu ambao wanafanya vitu vikubwa sana duniani. Mfano: David Blunket wa Uingereza, nchi ninayotoka, ni kipofu toka alipozaliwa, lakini amewahi kushika nyadhifa mbalimbali katika serikali ya Uingereza, kufikia hatua ya kuwa Waziri wa Mambo ya Ndani, nafasi ya nne kwa umuhimu kwenye serikali ya Uingereza. Kuna mifano mingi sana ya watu wenye ulemavu ambao ni maarufu, nikianza kuwataja naweza kuongea mpaka asubuhi. Ni muhimu sote tushirikiane ili kuhakikisha haki za walemavu zinazingatiwa, kwani, “kidole kimoja hakivunji chawa”.
This year, is the European Year of Creativity and Innovation. Realizing the potential and capability of people with disability, my delegation decided to celebrate this year by highlighting and celebrating the unique work of people with disability to the general public. We wanted to give the opportunity to grow professionally and have confidence with what they do. Na tulifanikiwa kwa hilo.
Our centre piece, a Baobab tree was made by the Wonder welders, a group of incredible disabled people who use scrap metals and recycled paper to create wonderful works of art! The invitation and thank you cards together with recycled bags, were made by Neema Craft, a group promoting the dignity and economic empowerment of disabled people from Iringa. Amazing people, all of them with different kinds of disabilities, but happy and determined to do their job to perfection. Some of them were rejected by their families, but through this project their dignity was restored.
Sasa umefika wakati kwe-tu sote, kuacha kuwadharau walemavu, tushirikiane nao na tuwawezeshe katika kuleta maendeleo. Miundombinu iboreshwe ili nao waweze kuitumia bila matatizo yeyote, kwa mfano inabidi tuwe na mabasi yenye ngazi maalum, kila jengo liwe na sehemu ambayo walemavu wataweza kupita na sio ngazi peke yake. Muhimu zaidi walemavu wapewe elimu kama mtoto wengine. Itapendeza sana kama siku moja Tanzania tutakuwa na kina David Blunket, Stevie Wonder, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Shakespeare, mpiga picha kipofu Dorothea Lange, kwani wote hawa walikuwa na ulemavu wa aina Fulani. Tuendeleze vipaji vya walemavu ili tumpate Mzee Moris Nyunyusa mwingine.
Finally, I would like to finish by saying that we are pleased and happy to be here today and we would like to ensure you of our close cooperation.
Nawatakia kila la heri kwa mtakayo jifunza.
Asanteni sana.
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