Disability Equality Training Kicks-off

A three-day training of trainers' workshop on disability equality organised by the Voluntary Service Overseas VSO, with funding from Big Lottery Fund, UK is currently underway at the GOVI Resource Centre in Kanifing.

The training, which brought together disabled across the country, is aimed at training three people from each disabled organisation on disability equality issues. It is being implemented by the Disabled People Organisation, in collaboration with VSO Gambia Office.

The objective of the training, among others, is to acquaint the participants with the context of the disability equality-training manual, be aware of issues relating to planning and delivering training events, and develop necessary skills for delivering report to others.

Addressing the participants at the opening ceremony, Mrs. Ndella Faye- Colley, the Programme Manager for Disability at the VSO office informed the gathering that VSO believes and is committed to the full inclusion and empowerment of the disabled for their active participation in every aspect of life within their families, communities and society.

Madam Faye-Colley stated that the training is an important activity and a key milestone in the BLF funded project entitled "Empowering People With Disabilities in The Gambia, which is being implemented by VSO and its partners, including the DPOs."

This activity, she added, was conceived as a means of raising awareness on disability issues, and is targeted at institutions such as schools, hospitals, clinics, NGOs, Community Based-Organisations.

According to her, the training will focus on disability equality, which she said, is about building peoples' understanding of the rights of person with disabilities, discrimination against them, and what can be done to address it.

She further revealed that the training would help the participants acquire skills to be able to conduct step down training to targeted institutions, and thereby increase their knowledge on disability and issues around them.

Madam Faye Colley urged the participants to do as much as they can to be fully equipped to enable them do the step down training in urban and rural areas, while assuring them of her office’s support in implementing this important activity.

For his part, Mr. Muhammed Cora, the President of GOVI and Chairman of Disabled People Organisation in The Gambia also spoke at length on the importance of the training, noting that it cannot be over-emphasised. He stated that disability does not mean inability, and urged them to make the best use of the training.

He commended the VSO for their commitment and dedication to disabled community in The Gambia.