Help each other to promote understanding of disabled people’ needs

Cambodian Civil Society Partnership (CCSP) in cooperation with Handicap International Federation (HI-Fed) conducted a 3-day training course from September 6th to 8th, 2011 at HI-Fed office in Battambang Province. There were 11 (2 female) participating civil society organization staff from HI-Fed, Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDP), and Opérations Enfants Du Cambodge (OEC). Main topics focused on in the training were Decentralization and De-concentration, Commune Development Plan, Commune Investment Program and Gender Issues.

The training aimed to promote civil society groups and the government’s development partners’ understanding of, the processes of decentralization and de-concentration (D&D), Commune Development Plan (CDP), and Commune Investment Program (CIP); especially, key issues on how to incorporate disability mainstreaming into those plans so that disabled people can receive more attention from the commune council.

Mr. Chan Vichet, a site representative of HI-Fed in Battamabang, said, “It is a great opportunity for staff from HI-Fed and other NGO partners to participate in the jointly-organized training workshop by CCSP and HI-Fed to learn how to incorporate disability mainstreaming into CDP and CIP, so that the development can benefit disabled people, the vulnerable group in the commune.”

Upon the completion of the three-day training, most participants clearly understood the core content of the workshop; in particular, the importance of disabled people’s involvement in development plans/programs, and agreed to prioritize their participation. In addition, they also learnt a lot from each other through group discussions and role-plays.

Mr. Phann Sothea, one of the trainers, asserted, “Successful incorporation of disability mainstreaming into the CDP or CIP does not depend on where it is included in the plan/program, but the capabilities, willingness and commitment of the doers to make it happen. That’s the reason why we conduct today training.”

“The disability issues can be successfully incorporated when civil society has sufficient capability and when they can incorporate disability issues into their organizational program and are able to persuade commune planning officers to do the same into the CDP and CIP,” he added.

At the end of the training, participants expressed their enthusiasm and intention to help disabled people equally benefit from all development programs.