Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Pathfinders:
Towards Full Participation and Equality of Persons with Disabilities in the ESCAP Region

Part 5 of 5 : Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Social Policy Paper No. 2

PART FIVE

SELF-HELP ORGANIZATIONS

XV. OVERVIEW OF SELF-HELP ORGANIZATIONS

When the Asian and Pacific Decade for Disabled Persons began in 1993, it was recognized that in order to achieve its objectives an agenda for action was needed. One of the 12 policy areas targeted for action was Self-Help Organizations.

In some countries in the region, self-help organizations are still an aspiration. Either the political, economic or social environment does not yet exist where individuals, disabled or otherwise, have been empowered to take control of their own development. But in Viet Nam, all it took was the courage of a handful of individuals to plant the seed. This seed took root and grew, until it eventually blossomed into the Bright Future Group, a self-help organization giving advice to and working in consultation with the Government.

This Viet Nam case study provides an example of how self-help organizations can build the morale and confidence of those involved in them. To oversee the management of their organizations, members learn by doing, developing new skills and enhancing existing ones, that they are then able to share with others in their community.

The Bright Future Group focuses not only on helping individuals with disability, but also encourages the development of other self-help organizations. The development and strengthening of the capacity of self-help organizations is essential for the empowerment of people with disability. Self-help organizations provide not only the means to enhance the skills of people with disability to help themselves, but also allow them to achieve a fuller and more equal participation in society. It is through these organizations that the voices of people with disability are able to be heard and included in the formulation of policy and projects which aim to serve and benefit them.

XVI. BRIGHT FUTURE GROUP: BIRTH OF A SELF-HELP ORGANIZATION IN VIET NAM ^[24]

A. The nature of the problem

In the early 1980s a group of young disabled people, former students, used to meet informally to discuss their common situation. They would exchange information and share their ideas on how to overcome the difficulties, obstacles and health concerns which they faced. All the participants had a disability in the area of mobility. Their concerns focused on how to find a job and to earn adequate income, using their many abilities. They were concerned with seeking advice and solutions to social and practical issues faced by themselves and an ever-widening circle of disabled friends. Relevant issues included maintaining a happy family life, feeding and teaching their children, and finding jobs for unemployed friends. They all asserted that they were not a burden on their families, and they wanted the opportunity to lead a normal life within their society. Gradually the idea was conceived that an organization should be formed which would assist other people with disabilities to overcome the obstacles they faced, and would give them a voice of their own. Activities of the group increasingly involved more disabled people, and the decision was made by the members to work with and help disabled people.

B. The nature of the organization

The Bright Future Group for People with Disabilities is an organization of people with mobility impairments, who work as volunteers for people with disability. It was established in 1988. The first members were former students of Hanoi University (now known as National University), Technology University and Hanoi Foreign Language College. In 1995, the Bright Future Group was legally admitted as a member of the Society of Support for Hanoi Handicapped and Orphans (SSHHO). It is also a member of the Viet Nam Association for Rehabilitation (VINAREHA). All the activities of the Bright Future Group are managed and conducted in accordance with the regulations approved by the Executive Board and all the members. These include the two major projects on vocational training in the areas of computer technology and use, and English language acquisition, for people with disabilities.

The objectives of the Bright Future Group are:

• To encourage people with disabilities to lead independent lives, not to be a burden on their families and society, to foster their well-being, and to work towards removing prejudice and negative attitudes in society;

• To create opportunities for employment of people with disabilities, by providing vocational training in such areas as computer and foreign language skills;

• To create a positive environment in society which allows people with disabilities to participate in and contribute to community activities and the growth and development of the society;

• To provide and exchange information to encourage society to create a barrier-free environment to promote the integration of people with disabilities into the community.

C. Achievements

The Bright Future Group has undertaken activities in many areas, in addressing the needs and rights of people with disabilities. These have included those described below.

• The Group consulted with the Government to contribute to the process of drafting the Viet Nam Ordinance on People with Disabilities.

• The Group promoted implementation of the Viet Nam Ordinance on People with

Disabilities, and the Agenda for Action for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, in collaboration with the National Coordination Committee for Disability (NCCD), the Society of Support for Hanoi Handicapped and Orphans, the Viet Nam Association for Rehabilitation, and other organizations of and for people with disabilities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces. Action has focused on promoting the development of self-help organizations in Hanoi and other cities, and encouraging them to take action to achieve barrier-free environments, recommending the establishment of an organization of disabled people in Viet Nam, and recommending that relevant organizations undertake training programmes of people with disabilities as resource persons for the movement of people with disabilities.

• Women and girls with disabilities have been linked to the organizations of people with disabilities, to share and exchange information with them.

• Vocational training courses have been conducted in Hanoi for people with disabilities in computer and foreign language skills. This project has been funded for three years (1996-1998) by the Hong Kong Society of Rehabilitation for Disabled Persons and the Japan Society for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons. Many graduates from these courses are now employed.

• Public awareness and information on people with disabilities, and their issues, has been increased by means of newspaper and magazine articles and speeches at public meetings.

• An access survey was conducted in cooperation with the Architectural Institute on accessibility in Hanoi.

• Consultation and recommendations have been provided to government officials on issues relating to disability.

• The Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific publication

“Management of Self-Help Organizations of People with Disabilities” has been translated and disseminated locally in Viet Nam with funding from Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Translation into Vietnamese and publication of resource documents required for “Campaign 2001 for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled People, 1993-2002”, is currently being undertaken, funded by the Regional NGO Network for the Promotion of the Asian and Pacific Decade (RNN) and Plan International.

• A model wheelchair for people with disabilities has been designed and built.

Members have attended training courses on wheelchair production, conducted by Asahi Shimbun Social Welfare Organization of Japan, in Thailand. Wheelchairs donated by Asahi Shimbun Organization have been received, in collaboration with Society of Support for Hanoi Handicapped and Orphans, and distributed to people with disabilities in Hanoi, and Haiphong cities and Ha Tay province.

• The Bright Future Group has worked as a co-organizer, with local and overseas non-governmental organizations and local government officials, to organize the National Workshop of Leadership Training, and Exchange Programmes on Disability, with disabled people of Ho Chi Minh City and disabled people of Japan.

• Members have participated in national and international conferences on disability issues.

• Teams of journalists, students and disabled persons have exchanged visits and learning experiences with disabled people in the community.

• Activities have been undertaken to provide advice, counseling and support to people with disabilities to help them maintain good health and happy family lives, and to find jobs.

• Excursions to places of historical interest and natural beauty have been organized for all members.

D. Key lessons learned

One of the most important issues for the Bright Future Group has been the realization of the importance of training and mobilization of its membership. The most critical area identified concerns understanding policy and ensuring that members are involved in supervising the implementation of policy and decision-making on all issues that relate to people with disabilities. A policy action plan was developed and used to train members on the issues and the means of presenting them effectively. A plan to increase the capacity of members to carry out this important role was undertaken. Teams of two to four members were formed, who provided leadership to other members in their groups. Learning was undertaken by means of discussion, exchange, and practice in presenting policy issues within their organizations of people with disabilities. This strengthened the movement of people with disabilities and has allowed them to advocate for the mobilization of society to address the issues that are of concern to people with disabilities.

E. Sustainability

Finance for self-help organizations for people with disabilities is limited and difficult to gain. Thus the issue of raising adequate funds to finance the many activities of the Bright Future Group is an ongoing concern. Working in collaboration, the groups representing people with disabilities have raised funds to maintain their bases and conduct their many activities.

The growth in membership, and the spread of activity to other cities and provinces, as well as the consultative role now played with Government, all suggest that the Bright Future Group will continue to grow and expand its influence to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Viet Nam.

ANNEX LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER OF CHAPTER PRESENTATION

Centre for Disability in Development
D-55 Talbag, Savar
Dhaka 1340
Bangladesh
Email: cdd@bangla.net

Disability Action Council
28, St 184, Khan Daun Penh
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Email: dac@bigpond.com.kh

Health and Welfare Bureau Government of Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region
19-20 ^thFl Murray Building
Garden Road
Hong Kong
China
Email: cforr@hwb.gcn.gov.hk

Access Initiative Group
C/- Naziaty Mohd Yaacob
Department of Architecture
University of Malaysia
Malaysia
Email: naziaty@yahoo.com

Samarthya
B-181 Mansarover Garden
New Delhi 1100 15
India
Email:samarthyaaccess@hotmail.com

Blind People’s Association (India)
Dr Vikram Sarabhai Road
Vastrapur
Ahmedabad 380 015
India Email: bpa@vsnl.com

Thailand Association of the Blind
Bangkok
Thailand
Email : info@tab.or.th

Food and Agriculture Organization Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Maliwan Mansion
39 Phra Athit Road
Bangkok 10200
Thailand
Email: FAO.RAP@fao.org

Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed
PO-CRP: Chapain, Savar
Dhaka
Bangladesh
Email: crp@bangla.net

Katipunan Ng Maykapansanan Sa Pilipinas (KAMPI)
Old Administrative Building
Quezon Memorial Circle, Diliman
Quezon City
Philippines
Email: bbc701@surfshop.net.ph

Bright Future Group for People with Disabilities
P 106 B15 Luong Dinh Cua Street
P Kim Lien, Q Hai Ba Trung
Hanoi
Viet Nam
Email: tlts@bfgroup.org.vn

Self Evaluation Exercise

The Social Development Division of ESCAP is undertaking an evaluation of the publication: Pathfinders: Towards Full Participation and Equality of Persons with Disabilities in the ESCAP Region (ST/ESCAP/2170). The objective of this publication is to facilitate the development of activities and the strengthening of regional cooperation to promote the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002: “Full participation and equality”. We would appreciate it if you could complete this questionnaire and return it at your earliest convenience to :

Chief Social Development Division ESCAP, United Nations Building Bangkok 10200, Thailand

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