Chances are you are reading this blog from a first world country, if that be the case, I would like you for a moment to close your eyes and imagine all of the resources and opportunities persons with disabilities have in your country. Now, I want you to imagine how life without access to these resources might be like for persons with disabilities, you are now imaging the life of disabled persons here in Mongolia. A vast majority of public facilities lack wheelchair ramps or elevators. Most disabled children in the countryside where I live, stay at home because of the lack of special education, vocational and rehabilitative programs.
In 2001 a National Committee for Organizing the Activities for Persons with disabilities was commissioned by the Mongolian Ministry of Social Welfare and Labor. According to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Labor persons with disabilities are defined as, an individual who has lost their ability to work in normal conditions or who are identified as having sight, hearing, speaking, limb or mental problems, due to hereditary or non-hereditary reasons, congenital defects, diseases or accidents. Beginning in 2008 the Mongolian government began collaborating with NGO's such as the Asian Foundation and World Vision to implement programs that would enhance and improve the over quality of life for persons with disabilities.
Peace Corps Mongolia established an Empowering Individuals with Disabilities task force this year, with a primary focus on improving the lives of disabled individuals living in Mongolia, as well as the background knowledge of Mongolian communities regarding disabilities.
This past winter, the Govi-Altai Children and Families Department approved our proposal for a new social integration program for children with disabilities living in Govi-Altai. We modeled certain aspects of our program after the INGO Best Buddies program based in the US, our program aims to do the following:
• To provide children with disabilities access to fundamental education.
• To foster an environment for children with disabilities, that encourages social integration into the
community.
• To raise awareness around children with disabilities, through educating non-disabled secondary school children on what living with a disabilities entails.
• To promote volunteerism amongst secondary school youth.
The Govi-Altai Happy Centre for Children with Disabilities and Friends meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 2-5pm at a local Bookbridge Library branch. We have a total of 10 disabled children who participate in the program, and 20 secondary school youth volunteers. Magda Verboom is a nurse from Holland currently living in Govi-Altai, who has over 16 years of experience working with disabled children in Mongolia. I was delighted to partner with her on this project, along with my fellow PC site mate Jerome Leonard. Magda has been tasked with organizing the educational portion of our program for children with disabilities from 2-3:30pm. During this session disabled students study and practice reading, phonics and mathematics. Shortly after our youth volunteers arrive at 3:30pm, we begin "buddy time" (organized by Jerome and I), which typically involves a short movie or ice breaker activity, snack time, reading with your buddy, games, fitness activities, field trips, etc. Sustainability is and will always be our top priority when it comes our work here in Mongolia, which is why we are also training and working with two specialist from the Govi-Altai Children's and Families Department, Lhavjagal and Batbayer, to ensure that the program will be here for many years to come.
Ultimately the Govi-Altai “Happy Centre” for Children with Disabilities and Friends will create an environment of life-long learning, compassion and acceptance for all people. We firmly believe that a holistic approach for children with disabilities, will allow them to reach their fullest potential, subsequently improving their overall quality of life. Over the past month since our program began we've already noticed significant changes in the attitudes and demeanor of all of our participants, the children are engaged, feel accepted and comfortable amongst one another. Something as simple as fostering an environment were disabled children can thrive is already increasing inclusion and decreasing stigmas surrounding persons with disabilities. Our motto at the Govi-Altai Centre for Children with Disabilities and Friends is "Changing hearts and lives one day at a time."
I've included some pictures from one of our session at the library and our trip to the Museum below from the Happy Centre. Enjoy!
A Little Photo Booth Fun!
