BackgroundPrinciples by which we work
Our mandate is to work for (and with) the poorest of the poor – we define as poorest, marginalised and vulnerable
We use the principles of Catholic Social teaching (CST) as the framework for our programs.
Catholic Social TeachingUphold the dignity of the human person
Begin and strengthen processes that lead from less human to more human conditions
Serve others, especially the poorest
Enable the poor to participate in decisions affecting their lives
Promote peace and communal harmony; the common good
Care for the environment
Promote justice for all, especially economic justice
Subsidiarity
Love one another
Asia Strategy
We aim to develop and implement strategies which
reach,
include,
support,
benefit
and empower the poorest, most vulnerable and marginalised in each community in which we work.
Working with the poorest of the poor
By the term “poorest of the poor” we mean:
the poorest in terms of food, shelter, clothing, access to education and health services; weakest in terms of capacity to influence; the most vulnerable in any society and those who are marginalised for reasons of race, disability, difference etc.
How we do this•Partners are trained on CST and working with poorest•Training includes session listing all those groups who might be included as poorest•Partners discuss obstacles to working with poorest and how to overcome obstacles•Partners understand obligations to the poorest
How CST has supported disability work
Partners look again at their programs
Putting disabled people on the agenda may mean:
Mainstreaming disability into all programs
and/or
Implementing specific disability programs
Mainstreaming Partners need to look at inclusion in all initiativesHow do we do this?Inclusion features: listening, creating access, providing assistance, empowermentConstraint: Within a strategy to reach the poorest are disabled people lost amid widows, orphans, landless, illiterate, elderly, the sick etc?
InclusionCA supports many programs in broad community development both rural and urban; in each of these we need to find a special place for the disabled elderly, landless, orphans etc
This takes time and a consistent approach
Example:A community development project in Kampong Speu province Cambodia, included as “common good” the building of a school but also supported the poorest in provision of clean water, chicken-raising and kitchen gardening
Advantages of specific projects
Raises profileSpecific initiatives for people living with HIV/AIDS created an environment in which HIV was recognised as a major health and social issueMore effective at ensuring the involvement of people with disabilityRecognises the value of PWD
Specific initiatives
Vietnam:
Training of parents and teachers of the disabled to become advocates particularly in communities and schools
Self-help groups
Livelihood development
Vocational training
Parents as trainers
Specific initiativesCambodia- Maryknoll
Deaf Development ProgramThe majority of deaf people in Cambodia live isolated lives in the provinces. Deaf men work in the rice fields with their hearing siblings. Deaf women are kept at home to cook and clean. They have no language except for some “home signs” made up by family and only understood by family.
Maryknoll-DDP
Most students have never been to school
For deaf students over 16 years
Two year program: sign language, basic literacy and numeracy, life skills
Organises vocational training
Three centres:Kampot, Kampong Cham, Phnom Penh
Staff includes 9 deaf people
Provides hostel accommodation
Lao PDR- two programs
Lao Disabled People’s Organisation (LDPA). Support for children with intellectual disability – volunteer-run school, training of parents and teachers of children with ID. First initiative in the country; LDPA has potentially wide-reach
CRS – Sight and Sound project. Training and support of teachers in identifying hearing and visual impairment among children; provision of aids – glasses, hearing aids
Both projects are supported by government
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