Community Services to Vulnerable Groups: Expanding Participation of People with Disabilities Quarterly report April-June 2011

The project is implemented by ChildFund International-Belarus, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Cooperative Agreement Number 121-A-00-05-00703-00. The project's main objectives are to support initiatives of people with disabilities, extend the range of services provided by local organizations, and promote the rights of people with disabilities through advocacy efforts. To achieve these objectives, the project provides small grants to local organizations of people with disabilities (DPOs), conducts capacity-building events, and supports advocacy efforts. During the reporting period of April-June 2011, the project implemented several activities, including the Leadership without Limitations Training Course, which graduated 14 people with disabilities who improved their personal, communication, facilitation, and management skills. The alumni applied their acquired knowledge and skills in various follow-up activities, including advocacy campaigns, round tables, and planning and coordination of an art festival of people with disabilities. The project also supported the development of an innovative alternative communication method for non-verbal children, which was highly appreciated by the National Institute of Education of the Republic of Belarus. The project was extended for one month to complete the methodological manual, which will be distributed nationally and internationally. In addition, the project supported the International Conference on Alternative Methods of Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities, which was conducted in Minsk in May 2011. The participants highly appreciated the results of the "Healing of Magic" project, which was supported by ChildFund, and recommended its methodology for nationwide dissemination at hospitals and habilitation centers for children with disabilities. The project also registered and launched three new small grants, which will focus on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention for children and youth with mental and physical disorders, social rehabilitation of people with spinal injury, and improving independent living skills of children in wheelchairs. Despite the challenges posed by the devaluation of the national currency and increased control by the government, the project was able to overcome obstacles and ensure participation of state authorities and staff in the project activities. The project also learned several lessons, including the importance of long-term training courses, the effectiveness of advocacy as an integral part of small grant projects, and the need for follow-up support to participants of training programs. The project's achievements during the reporting period include the implementation of three local DPOs, the registration of three new DPOs, the serving of 110 adults with disabilities and 124 children with disabilities, the conduct of three capacity-building events, one round table on inclusive education, and the training of 100 PWD-related specialists. The project also initiated and implemented 16 advocacy efforts.