Wheel Chairs and Hearing Aids Distribution for PWDs : For Persons with disabilities (Jalozai Camp)
People with disabilities are invisible citizens mostly unseen and unheard in schools, on buses, in the workplace and restaurants .They are not only unseen on individual level but no heed has been given to them on institutional level. Few years back there was no understanding even, about this segment of society and to facilitate them with an unusual focus. Disability "summarizes a great number of different functional limitations occurring in any population in any country of the world. People may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, medical conditions or mental illness. The UN estimates that there are 500 million persons with disabilities in the world today. In Pakistan, the estimated 15 million of its population may be categorized as persons with disabilities, of whom about2.82 million are below the age of 18 years. But the aforementioned data is a rough estimate and the actual figures are supposed to be even higher than this. The other useful rough figures about disability in Pakistan are +18: are- 2.402-m); visual impaired 1.41-m and 1.201-m; hearing impaired: 0.705 and 0.6-m; mental disability: 1.41-m and 1.201-m. these people represent the 10% of the whole Pakistan population. 77% of the people with disabilities have no access to education. 66% of the people with disabilities live in rural areas .Women with disabilities are twice as more likely to be abused than women without disabilities .Disability may be genetically pre-determined or may be caused by environmental conditions such as poverty, violence, unsafe working conditions, malnutrition, poor health care, lack of sanitation, neglect or abuse .The rate of literacy among people with disabilities is 24% use.70% of the people with disabilities are unemployed.

 

Keeping in view the sufferings and the current situation of PWDs, SPADO is serving this vulnerable segment of society in various parts of FATA and KPK. The organization has carried out various projects through participatory approaches. The services of the organization have been acknowledged and appreciated globally especially in child protection, Mine risk education and Serving the persons with disabilities. The organization is serving Persons with disabilities around the country through various projects and activities. The organization has its awareness campaigns against land mines which are one of the many causes of disabilities around the globe.
SPADO has launched many an efforts to assist Persons with disabilities.

Initiation of the KM project in collaboration with LCDDP in District Swat to assist around 200 of PWDs through grants to initiate small businesses, different skill based and livelihood trainings, distributing wheel chairs and other helping devices among the PWDs in Swat.
SPADO is the member and focal point for International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC). It has performed its role in the campaign against small arms and land mines which are one of the many causes of disability around the globe. SPADO, in coordination with the aforementioned forums, has its dedication to ensure and promote the top mandate of disability rights. The approach to carry out the task is to discuss the rights of persons with disability, With Government at Policy level and through advocacies on national level too.
In 2008, SPADO launched an intervention, focusing persons with disability at various IDP Camps targeting 245 persons with disability and carried out the task successfully. In the process, wheel chairs, hearing aids and other motivating tools were distributed among persons with disability.
In 2009 again, SPADO had its focus upon this segment of society and through various interventions in many parts of the country especially in FATA, remained intact with 325 persons with disability. The facilitation efforts proved very helpful to motivate these persons towards the start of a new life.
In 2010, SPADO further expanded its efforts to be intact with these persons with disability and facilitated about 538 persons through various interventions. As the implementation, about 200 wheel chairs and hearing aids were distributed in District Swat and many other parts of KPK and FATA.
The journey has not taken an end yet. SPADO has its plans to expand its efforts further in 2011 in this regard and help as much as 1000 families of persons with disability in the calendar year.

 

Efforts in the Jalozai camp
The recent years have seen the great influx of the IDPs from various parts of FATA towards the settled areas accompanying with thousands of Persons with disabilities. The fight between militants and Pakistan army was one of the great reasons of such a great proportion of disability side by side with malnutrition in Bajowr and the adjacent conflict affected areas.
Just after the arrival of IDPs in Jalozai camp, SPADO geared up to facilitate the IDPs in the camp through various programs keeping an eye on persons with disabilities.
The organization commenced the activities through establishing child friendly spaces in the camp and ensured the representation of children with disabilities in the activities. Activities focusing the children with disabilities are the part of the work plan and special facilitation of such children has been carried out throughout the intervention.
Having a particular focus on these children, the organization arranges especial facilitation programs like wheel chair and hearing devices distributions among the disable children. (The details have been provided under the heading “SPADO and PWDs”)
The under discussion event takes place on 31st March 2011. The Children with Disabilities in jalozai camp are beneath the open skies waiting the peace to be restored. The conflict has left them with disabilities and these are the harsh days for these children but SPADO is in the field, committed to assist them. The organization distributed 07 wheel chairs and 02 hearing aids with collaboration of Unicef and arranges 03 hearing aids as its own contribution to the cause disables facilitation.
SPADO carried out a careful assessment in the camp and collected data about the disable children. The collected names of the beneficiaries were evaluated and verified within the team. As a process the child Protection Committees and child protection groups were also in hand. Because of the limited numbers of assistance available, the organization prioritized the beneficiaries on case to case intensity and need level. The list of beneficiaries is attached with the document.
Mr. Ayyub the camp Administrator was the chief guest of the event. He in his speech appreciated the efforts of SPADO and hoped for the rest of the children to be provided with wheel chairs and hearing aids. He in his remarks added that the example has been set and just demands to be followed in future. He said that SPADO has keen observation of the situation in the camp being the leading contributors in both child protection and disability sector. The organization has set such examples in the past too and thanked SPADO on behalf of camp administration. SPADO CP Jalozai coordinator, in his remarks expressed the commitment of the team to further facilitate the PWDs.

 

Conclusion
The organization is further committed to strengthen the efforts through other interventions and to help this segment of society to get more of them and to utilize their energies in a more effective way. Activities to enhance the capacities of persons with disabilities will be initiated this year in the context.

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Distribution of Clothes in Flood Affected Area (Marghuzaar Valley, Swat) With The Support Of UNICEF

Flash Flood of July / August 2010 played havoc in the lives of conflict-stricken people of Swat valley, Wrath of water gulped-away the houses, bridges, orchids and agricultural lands, most part of the valley cut off with only aerial accessibility. Many  villages are removed from the bottom and the occupants narrowly escaped and lost every possession in the houses. Particularly the Marghuzzar valley saw unprecedented destruction and the people after losing homes are in a state of quandary.

In such like catastrophic situation SPADO's Community Child Protection Centers played a vital role in the provision of Fls, NFls and psychosocial support to the vulnerable children can be easily linked to services and provision of their basic needs can also be ensured.

Clothes Distribution: Clothes were distributed among those children whose houses were washed away by the flood water. Total 510 suits were distributed among the flood affected children in Marghuzzar valley. This was in response of the winterization, that is winter season has set-in most parts of Swat valley. Due to which, people are prone to many diseases and vulnerabilities. These clothes will provide some relief to the flood affected children.
 

Children were given clothes according to their gender and age. The distribution took place in Marghuzzar valley. SPADO staff from Child Protection Project Swat was involved in the distribution of warm clothes.
These clothes were provided by UNICEF (donor partner) to SPADO (Implementing Partner). The whole activity was carried out by SPADO staff after receiving the clothes and identification of number of vulnerable children in Marghuzzar Swat.

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Distribution of Hearing-Aid Devices at Swat With The Support Of UNICEF
Sustainable Peace and Development Organization (SPADO) is working on Child Protection in District Swat to provide Psycho-social Support to the children and provide recreational facilities in the armed conflict area to make them come to the normal routine life.
In this regard, SPADO arranged a hearing devices distribution ceremony at its Swat Office. SPADO arranged 25 hearing devices for the vulnerable children identified by our staff members and verified by the doctors. This ceremony was arranged on Friday 22nd October, 2010. These devices were provided by UNICEF to SPADO. The children were invited along with their parents/guardians to SPADO Office, Swat. The ceremony started with the recitation from the Holy Quran. After recitation the program was formally started in an organized manner.
Mr. Hameed Khan, District Officer Social Welfare Department, was the chief guest for the ceremony; along with him Child Protection Unit staff and the SPADO Officials were also present on this occasion. Total 25 hearing devices were distributed among the deserved and vulnerable children. These devices were distributed District Officer Social Welfare Department Mr. Hameed khan. Project Coordinators were also present on the occasion and assisted in distribution. In his speech, the chief guest Hameed Khan told the participants that the Social
Welfare Department is carrying out these activities with the help of some NGOs and if they are not here we may not distribute these hearing aids as the government is not having enough resources to assist all the children. At the end of his remarks he thanked participants and pledged that they will continue such type of activities in the future as well.
 

 

Distribution Of Aqua Tab (Water Purification Tablets) With The Support Of MAG

SPADO (Sustainable Peace and Development Organization), has been providing relief through distribution of day to day use items such food and non.food items, wheel chairs as well as hearing devices to the people affected by the floods of July/August 2010. From the very outset of the floods, SPADO has been involved in relief activities in order to serve the most vulnerable people. A number of surveys have been conducted to identify the needs of the flood affectees. Over 20 million people have been affected by the flash floods throughout the country. In KPK only, about 1089 people lost their lives. SPADO`s relief activities not only involve distribution of food and non-food items but provision of psychosocial support, educational and recreational activities to the children and women.
Similarly, SPADO has distributed AQUA-TABS (water purification tablets) provided by MAG (Mines Advisory group) International. MAG is a humanitarian organization clearing the remnants of conflicts for the benefit of community worldwide. Ten cottons (each including 50,000 tablets) were distributed among flood affected areas of Swat, D.I Khan, Charsadda, Nowshera and Tank. Thus SPADO distributed five hundred thousand (500,000) tablets. The SPADO staff was involved in the distribution of these tablets on their own, plus SPADO also distributed these tablets in collaboration with other Non-government Organizations like Shajare Ilm and IRSP.

 

Need of distribution of Aqua-Tab:
Due to the recent floods, water became contaminated and there was no safe drinking water available to the flood affectees. Water borne diseases such as diarrhea, malaria and cholera etc. become very common as a result of use of contaminated water. One possible solution is the use of water purification tablets in order to kill the germs present in water. For this, SPADO took the initiative of distributing of water purification tablets called Aquatab. The use of these tablets kills the germs and water become safe for usage/drinking. The use of Aquatab reduces the chances of these water borne diseases and thus is helpful in saving expenses on medication etc.

Distribution by SPADO:
SPADO under its own staff`s supervision distributed 3, 88,0000 tablets inn areas of Swat, D.I.Khhan, Tank, Charsaddda and Nowsshera.
 

Distribution in collaboration with other organizations:
SPADO also provided these tablets to other organizations to be distributed.
Shajare IIlm distributed 12000 tablets in districts of Swatt and D.I.Khaan.
IRSP (Integrated Regional Support Program ) was provided with 1000,000 tablets in order to be distributed at District Nowshera. The distribution of Aquatab in UC Amankot, Chokidrab, UC Mohib Banda, and Baanda Sheikh Ismail was facilitated b y IRSP staff members.
 

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Distribution of Wheel Chairs and Hearing-Aid Devices at Jalozai Camp With Support Of UNICEF
Sustainable Peace and Development Organization (SPADO) has been working at Jalozai camp since April 2009. Its Child Protection Project is running and children are being provided protection and relief with different activities such as psychosocial support, counseling, games and education facilities etc. similarly, SPADO in the aftermath of the July / August floods have distributed shoes and FIs & NFIs at Jalozai camp.
On October 13th 2010, SPADO distributed Wheel Chairs and Hearing Aid Devices among the children of Jalozai camp. Seven disabled children received wheel chairs whereas six children were given away hearing aid devices.
These devices were provided by UNICEF (donor partner) and distributed by SPADO (implementing partner) Child Protection staff at Jalozai camp. Mr. Arbab Arshad - camp In charge of Jalozai was present on the occasion as the chief guest.

Distribution:
The incharge of Jalozai Camp, Mr. Arbab Arshad, distributed the wheel chairs and hearing aid devices among the needy children. In his speech during the distribution, he appreciated the efforts of SPADO in providing relief to the affected children through distribution of wheel chairs and hearing aid devices. He pledged SPADO to continue with its efforts to work for the betterment of the society and provision of necessities of life to the vulnerable people.

Wheel chairs:
Seven disabled children were provided with wheel chairs during the distribution. Most of the children were in the age range of 5 to 12 years.
 

Hearing-aid devices:
Some children were having problem in hearing. They needed electronic devices in order to be able to hear properly. Six children received hearing aid devices that will help them in boosting their ability to listen clearly.

 

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Shoes Distribution Among Flood Affectees Of Nowshera
SPADO (Sustainable Peace and Development Organization), has been providing relief through distribution of Food and Non-Food Items to the people affected by the recent floods. Over 14million people have been affected by the flash floods through out the country. SPADO, after a quick survey, distributed shoes in District Nowshera (Pabbi and Risalpur) on 15th August 2010.
The distribution of 2256 pairs of shoes, among children was arranged by SPADO with the support of UNICEF.
SPADO being the implementing partner of UNICEF was assigned the task of shoes distribution. The children who received the shoes were those who were extremely vulnerable. The receivers of shoes were overjoyed and they intend to wear these shoes on the occasion of the upcoming Eid ul Fitr. A total of 147 curtains of shoes, each curtain having 18 pairs (and some having 12pairs) were provided by UNICEF.
UNICEF team visited the distribution points and monitored the whole activity. The visitors showed satisfaction over the distribution of shoes among poor displaced children of the flood affected areas.
The teams of Child Protection Facilitators and Child Protection Monitors were involved in distribution at the following points:
1. Government Girls Degree College Pabbi
2. Government Higher Secondary School Risalpur
3. Kandar ii Camp opposite Technical College Risalpur
4. Government High School Pabbi
5. Government Degree College Pabbi & 6. Cenna Public School
 

Distribution  of Food Items In Nowshera
An estimated 14million people have been affected by the devastating floods through out Pakistan. Keeping in view the needs of the flood affected people, SPADO after a quick flood assessment, distributed Food Items in Qasim Ali Baig, Nowshera on 3rd August 2010.
The distribution of food items in Qasim Ali Baig included bread, milk, juices and biscuits etc for over 700 individuals. Some 175 families benefited from this distribution. It must be noted that this arrangement was done on self-support basis and no help was sought from donors.
SPADO staff members are engaged full time in relief activities as well as fund raising in personal capacity. SPADO also intends to distribute shoes in the flood hit areas of Nowshera on or before 14th of August 2010.
 

 

 

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Distribution of Hearing Devices in Swat
As a result of our staff survey in the target Union Councils (UCs) about special children the SPADO identified 50 deserving children and verified by ENT specialists. SPADO arranged 50 hearing devices for these desrved children and a ceremony was arranged in the office of SPADO. Mr. Hamid Khan District Officer (DO), Jahanul Mulk Coordinator Child Protection Unit (CPU), Umar Khan from Aurat Foundation, Wajid From Save the Children etc were present on the occasion. Hamid Khan was the Chief Guest of the program. The children and their parents thanked SPADO at the end.

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