60 Persons with Disabilities Trained in Lobbying Skills

The National Union of Organization of the Disable (NUOD) Inc, with support from Association Friends of Raoul Follereau (AIFO) Liberia, under the Disability and Startup (DASU) project, have trained People Living with Disabilities (PWD) in fundraising and lobby strategies to enable them sustain their businesses and organizations.

AIFO is an International NGO with headquarters in Bologna, Italy, focusing in the field of international health cooperation and disability since 1961. AIFO began its Liberia operation in1997.

AIFO Liberia's mission focuses on the promotion of disability rights, building the capacity of local Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) and on fostering economic independence for People with Disabilities (PWDs).

The one-day seminar, held under the theme, “Increasing the Technical Skills of DPOs in Fundraising and Lobbying Strategies for Persons with Disabilities,” brought together over sixty participants from across the Country to learn new skills in fundraising and lobbying, as well as drafting a joint resolution from those presentations during the training session.

Providing the purpose of the training, Naomi B. Harris, president, NUOD, said it is about time that disabled people learned how to lobby, raise funds and strategize to enable them to give back to society rather than being “beggars.”

Madam Harris said, “As we have come here today, I want all of us to pay attention, ask the necessary questions because this training is intended to make us understand how to lobby and strategize to enable us give back to society rather than being beggars all the time. As we have gathered here today, we hope that whatever that is learned here today should be used in various institutions so that we can impact society.

“I always say there is nothing about us without us; as you have come to learn, make use of the opportunity to enable you to strengthen your local organization. 

J. Sylvester Roberts, DASU Liberia Regional Coordinator and AIFO Liberia Regional Coordinator, during a PowerPoint presentation, said AIFO Liberia started a 3-year project entitled “Disability and Start Up, Civil society as Protagonist of Inclusive Development in Liberia,” with funding from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.

He said the overall objective of the project is to reinforce the role of DPOs in the socio-economic development processes and in the fulfilment of PWDs Rights.

Roberts said since the project started operating, NUOD and 9 DPOs members are in a position to promote effective initiatives for PWD rights, with a focus on inclusive business.

“Activities earmarked for achieving Result-1; NUOD and 9 DPO members actively participate in the policymaking with a sound role and they are in the position to promote effective initiatives for PWDs rights, with a focus on inclusive business,” he said.

Robert said the project has improved the economic independence and the social participation of 120 PWDs through the support of existing businesses and the creation of 30 start-ups for their self-employment.

“The project has facilitated the inclusion of Mental Health Users in economic and social development initiatives, through a specific and participatory plan,” Robert said.

Robert said the project also has a diagnostic study on DPO and NUOD institutions and management capacities, adding that they have provided a training course for 9 DPOs and NUOD and exchange of good practices with African Platforms.

Gabriel T. Soh, spokesman for Nimba Disabled, appreciated AIFO and NUOD for building the skills of PWDs and training them how to raise their own resources.

Soh said due to the DASU Project, PWDs have been able to make an impact in society and build self confidence in their existence rather than seeing themselves as beggars. 

He called on the government to take keen interest in people living with disabilities because their disabilities are not inabilities.“I am calling on the government to take keen interest in people living with disabilities because our bodies may be deformed but our mental compositions are not. We can do more than what physical people can do. Like me I can drive, I have a wife and I have acquired education and I want to contest in Nimba District #1. The only thing we need is opportunity, encouragement and empowerment,” Soh said.