USAID Projects Supporting Disabled People Enrich Belarusian Society

The training’s highly interactive activities allowed the volunteers to exercise various communication methods and skills.

The USAID-funded project “Community Services to Vulnerable Groups” supports the integration of people with disabilities (PWD) in Belarus through the development of innovative PWD services in addition to strengthening the capacity of PWD grassroots organizations.

This year, the project is sponsoring six initiatives that were generated by Disabled People’s organizations throughout the country. One such initiative emanated from Brest, where the non-government organization (NGO) “PWD and Environment” focused their attention on the promotion of cultural and social integration of PWD into the daily life of their communities. They did this by encouraging PWD  to unveil their full potential by displaying their respective talents and improving their social skills through art and creative activities.  Disabled individuals from the Brest region are offered an opportunity to stage theatrical performances and present them to the audience of the annual International Festival of Theatrical Art in Brest.

Another facet of this program aims to train interested individuals within the communities in order to enhance their PWD skill sets. On October 21 twenty-five volunteers were trained in communication techniques that will help them to better interact with PWD during project-related events as well as in everyday life.

“I understood how important it is to prepare volunteers for working with disabled people. Those working with PWD must be taught to use appropriate means of communication in order to understand people with impairments, to be understood by them and to be able to knowledgeably respond to their needs” - said a training participant.

“I was surprised to see so many young people consciously investing their free time into volunteerism” – a newcomer reflected.

The USAID-funded project mobilizes collective action around issues of importance. Bringing young people together over socially important topics offers them professional and personal development opportunities and inspires volunteerism along with active participation in non-profit initiatives.  This close cooperation of youth NGOs with local educational and cultural institutions as well as governmental organizations in Brest has made a significant step forward in fighting prejudices and removing psychological barriers surrounding PWD.

Anti-stigma and anti-discrimination messages of the theatrical performances staged by disabled people truly resonate in the hearts and minds of everyday Belarusians, allowing for steady progress in pushing the boundaries of people’s perceptions.

In addition, striving for full inclusion of disabled children into community life from their early childhood helps making the integration process more natural. Residents of Zhitkovichi town in Gomel oblast realized that and supported the initiative of a local branch of NGO “Belarusian Association of Assistance to Disabled Children and Young People”. The NGO led the set up of an integrated playground for children with disabilities (CWD) and their peers from local school. The facility was opened on October 22. 

According to an NGO leader attending the ceremony,” The most important thing is that we have everybody’s support. The  Zhitkovichi Local Executive Committee, Regional Habilitation Center, parents of CWD, volunteers from local school and NGO members worked together to set up a playground that serves special needs children’s development and improves their social interaction with their peers who will be also using the facility”.

The Community Services to Vulnerable Groups activity is implemented by Child Fund International.