Friday 29 March 2024 | 05:53

One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot

22.12.2017  |  Society   |  Yauheniya Burshtyn, EuroBelarus,  
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot Photo by "EuroBelarus" information service

In Ščučyn, people with disabilities learned to be leaders and to advocate their interests.

The "EuroBelarus" website already wrote about the project being implemented in Stolin in the framework of the campaign "Agenda 50". Another pilot settlement is Ščučyn where an ongoing work is taking place on the creation of a local agenda on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. "EuroBelarus" information service visited the town, and also came to a two-day "Leader School" held by a regional organization of the Belarus Red Cross Society in Hrodna in the framework of the project "Active Community".

Photo by "EuroBelarus" information service

The "Leader School" was designed to teach participants to create a team and to work together to solve problems. The training, much of which was devoted to advocacy and self-help skills, was attended by the most active citizens. There were, among them, clients of day care units for people with disabilities and day care units for the elderly of a Territorial Centre of Social Service, parents of children with disabilities, employees of a Ščučyn-based Centre of Social Service.

Photo by "EuroBelarus" information service

However, public organizations’ representatives in the town are not very proactive.

- Thanks to the many-years experience of working with people with disabilities, I realized that we shouldn’t cultivate social dependency. Unfortunately, there are families in which people are convinced that everyone owes something to them. While many problems can be easily solved by one’s own participation. Due to the active position of each person we can achieve very good results to improve our lives, believes Inesa Larionava, coordinator of the "Active Community" project from the Hrodna regional organization of the Belarus Red Cross Society. By and large, you need to rely on yourself and your close ones. After all, who knows better their needs than a person him/herself? Not heads of government institutions and public organizations. We must start with ourselves and move forward by small steps.

Inesa Larionava. Photo by "EuroBelarus" information service

Inesa Larionava notes that in recent years the mentality of people has been significantly changed, and there are more of those who are willing to demand for equality. One could have received the evidence during the work of the "Leader School": even among friends, many participants suddenly showed themselves people of action, being strongly motivated. With the help of a specialist from Hrodna regional organization of the Belarus Red Cross Society, Alena Pauliankovič they were creating teams, analyzing problems faced by people with disabilities in Ščučyn, designating needs and actions, and resources, learning to promote their interests in the course of two days.

Alena Pauliankovič. Photo by "EuroBelarus" information service

- We realized that no man is an island, and we should be united and solve our problems as a community, shared her impressions from the training Anna, a participant.

She was supported by Dmitry, a client of the day care unit for people with disabilities of the Territorial Centre of Social Service:

- We should work as a united team. I’ve learned that everything should be done step by step, and in order to achieve something, you need to aspire to it.

Photo by "EuroBelarus" information service

- We hope that the project participants would take a more proactive stand, as well as that people who should help, would not work following the principle of "the inevitable good." Sometimes it seems to us as if we knew better what a person needs, and so we force him/her to do what we believe to be the best for them. Therefore, the project results should be the abilities to hear and to understand each other, and more, to interact, shares her expectations Inesa Larionava.

The activities to address the rights of people with disabilities in the town and in district have been supported by the administration of the Ščučyn Executive Committee. In parallel with the training session, we had the opportunity to meet with deputy chairman of the Ščučyn Executive Committee Hanna Hvyadziuk. According to her, the project "Active Community" is very important for the district, and the state bodies and public institutions intend to do everything possible for people with disabilities did not feel themselves discriminated in anything.

Project coordinator of the EU Delegation in Belarus Natallia Stasevič also came to the meeting. She intentionally made a trip to Ščučyn to talk about the possibilities of participation in international projects, including the ones in the framework of cross-border cooperation. Natallia Stasevič also reminded that one should not reduce the concept of the Convention exclusively to physical or mental disability.

- It applies to basic human rights issues. People with disabilities are the same citizens of the Republic of Belarus, and they should also be able to attend cultural events, receive aesthetic pleasure. So these self-help groups should teach and encourage them to talk what they want, what they lack.

Natallia Stasevič. Photo by "EuroBelarus" information service

The first such opportunity will be opened in January under the same project "Active Community": participants will gather at a round table to summarize all studied issues and needs, and afterwards they will attend meeting of the Coordinating Interdepartmental Council where they will discuss the solutions to the challenges of people with disabilities.

***

This article was created within the framework of “Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Agenda for Belarus (Agenda 50)” international project.

“Agenda 50” campaign is implemented with the support of the European Union and in partnership with TUS Foundation (Poland) and “European House” (Denmark). Office for the Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesInternational Consortium “EuroBelarus” and Centre for European Transformation participate in the implementation of the campaign in Belarus.

Other news section «Society»

What actually the State List of Historical and Cultural Values gives to Belarusan Heritage Sites?
What actually the State List of Historical and Cultural Values gives to Belarusan Heritage Sites?
The Belarus Committee of ICOMOS announces the collection of cases on the effectiveness of the State List of Historical and Cultural Values as a tool of the safeguarding the cultural monuments.
The right to heritage according to the standards of the Faro Convention: is it possible in Belarus?
The right to heritage according to the standards of the Faro Convention: is it possible in Belarus?
On March 27-28, the Belarus ICOMOS and the EuroBelarus held an online expert workshop on expanding opportunities for community participation in the governance of historical and cultural heritage.
“It is our big joint work”
“It is our big joint work”
It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.
The “Agenda 50” campaign was finalised by the Regional Development Forum
The “Agenda 50” campaign was finalised by the Regional Development Forum
The Forum was devoted not so much to the outputs as to the challenges and prospects after the creation and signing of local agendas.
Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool
Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool
To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.
“If a person cannot leave the apartment, he or she does not need an accessible Opera House”
“If a person cannot leave the apartment, he or she does not need an accessible Opera House”
In Stoubcy, they talked about universal design and conducted pilot monitoring of two urban sites accessibility.
Local agenda in Valożyn: mission accomplished
Local agenda in Valożyn: mission accomplished
"Specificity is different, but the priority is general." In Valożyn, a local strategy for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.
How Ščučyn was proceeding towards the solution of problems of people with disabilities
How Ščučyn was proceeding towards the solution of problems of people with disabilities
The campaign "Agenda 50" was summed up in Ščučyn, and a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed there.
A program to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities was designed in Stolin
A program to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities was designed in Stolin
The regional center has become the second city in Belarus where the local plan for the implementation of the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.
“Agenda 50” in Belarus: from strategies to implementation
“Agenda 50” in Belarus: from strategies to implementation
Representatives of the campaign “Agenda 50” from five pilot cities discussed achievements in creating local agendas for implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed
In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed
It is noteworthy that out of the five pilot cities, Stoubcy was the last to join the campaign “Agenda 50”, but the first one to complete the preparation of the local agenda.
The monitoring of accessibility was presented in Stolin
The monitoring of accessibility was presented in Stolin
On May 28, the city hosted a presentation of the results of the project "Equal to Equal" which was dedicated to monitoring the barrier-free environment in the city.
“They think if the legs don’t function, neither functions the head.”
“They think if the legs don’t function, neither functions the head.”
In Babruysk, wheelchair users are fighting discrimination.
The real work of the Convention depends on all interested communities and organizations
The real work of the Convention depends on all interested communities and organizations
What results has the campaign "Agenda 50" given, what helps to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the regions?
The Convention is a fight against fears, barriers and stigmata
The Convention is a fight against fears, barriers and stigmata
Experts in Valožyn have determined that the quality of people’s life depends on their awareness.
The Convention should become a "living tool”, rather than remaining just an ordinary document
The Convention should become a "living tool”, rather than remaining just an ordinary document
On March 3, members of the campaign "Agenda 50" from different Belarusian cities met in Minsk. The campaign is aimed at the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The main thing is one’s personal motivation for full active life (PHOTOS)
The main thing is one’s personal motivation for full active life (PHOTOS)
There are being implemented three projects under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities campaign in the city of Babruysk.
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot
In Ščučyn, people with disabilities learned to be leaders and to advocate their interests.
Barrier-free environment – it is not a ramp, but a means of independence (PHOTOS)
Barrier-free environment – it is not a ramp, but a means of independence (PHOTOS)
In Stolin, social organizations and local authorities are implementing a project aimed at independent living of persons with disabilities, and creating local agenda for the district.
Polish experts: We say “equality” and you say “inclusion”
Polish experts: We say “equality” and you say “inclusion”
Will creation of local agendas be an effective tool in ensuring rights of persons with disabilities in Belarus, just as it was in Poland?
Gintautas Mažeikis: The relation of political field and arena in the framework of information war

In his report, philosopher Gintautas Mažeikis discusses several concepts that have been a part of the European social and philosophical thought for quite a time.

“It is our big joint work”

It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.

Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf

Minsk’s muddled media clampdown could jeopardize warming of relations with the West.

Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool

To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.