Pacific Disability Forum
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News Title:
PDF Weekly Update 11 June 2010
Date Published:
11 June 2010
PDF Weekly Update
11th June, 2010
Greetings from the Pacific Disability Forum!
In
the news this week, we have news on the Paralympic rugby trials in Fiji, the
AusAID donation of $75,000.00 to the Fiji School of the Blind, NOLA Tsunami
Relieve assistance in Samoa, the Disability Support Network Inc visit to the
Auckland Disability Provider Network in July, 2010 and new members and staff
for Pacific Disability Forum.
1.
Paralympic
rugby trials on
(Source:
Josefa Makaba – Fiji
Times Online Wednesday June 9th 2010)
The
second week of trials for the Fiji Paralympic rugby team will be held this
Saturday.
Fiji Disabled
People Sports development officer Saimoni Nainoca said the trials would be held
in Suva and
Lautoka this weekend.
Nainoca said they
would have one more week of trials in the two centers before they select a team
each from the cities in the final trial.
Nainoca said the
trials were to select a National Special Education Under-16 team to tour New Zealand
later this year.
"We had our
first trials last Saturday and we were happy with the standard we saw from
players who took part in the trials," Nainoca said.
"We will have
another trial this weekend as we continue to embark on our talent search from
our children with disabilities."
Nainoca said the
trials in Suva would be held at the Gospel High School
ground while the one in Lautoka will be held at the Tilak High School
ground.
"This is an
excellent opportunity for our young kids with disabilities to show their talent
and be selected into our national under-16 team."
Nainoca said the
final trial would be held on the 26 of this month when the combined Western
team will face their East counterparts.
"After that
match we will select the team to tour New Zealand in August."
Parents and
supporters are asked to come down to the Gospel and Tilak grounds this Saturday
to support children with disabilities as they try out for a place in the
national team.
The trials in Suva will start at 2pm
while in Lautoka it starts at 10am.
2.
Australia donates $75,000
(Source: Riteshni Singh – Fiji Times Online June 9th
2010)
THE
Australian aid program yesterday provided Fiji Society for the Blind with
$75,000 for school hostel, equipment and to improve its community-based
rehabilitation program.
Speaking at the
handing over ceremony, the Counselor for the Australian aid program in Fiji, Sarah Goulding said support to education
was main component of Australia's
Development for All policy.
"We recognise
that education is a great enabler, opening doors -- social inclusion and
economic success," she said.
Ms Goulding said
the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education would only be
truly met if children with disabilities were included. The Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that all 192
United Nations member states and at least 23 international organisations have
agreed to achieve by the year 2015.
"You have
the same basic right to education as everyone else," she told the students present. "It is
through schools like yours that you are able to pursue all your hopes and
dreams."
Fiji Society for
the Blind Executive Director Barbara Farouk said the Society was grateful for
the assistance.
"Education
is very important to ensure that people living with disabilities such as visual
impairment are not left behind financially, academically and socially," she said.
She said the
assistance would enable the Society to continue providing crucial education
programs for visually-impaired and blind students in Fiji.
Mrs. Farouk said
Australian funding had enabled Fiji
School for the Blind to
purchase ten new Braille machines earlier this year. She said the number of
Braille machines for the Society's 61 students increased to 34.
The Society is the
only national institute that caters for the education of students who are
totally blind and visually impaired.
3.
NOLA
reaches out to 8 families affected by the latest tsunami in Samoa.
(Source: Faatino Utumapu – NOLA Office Manager, Samoa)
Today 9th of June 2010, Nola will be
distributing water tanks, pipes and cements to 8 families of its members who
were affected by the latest Tsunami. The 8 families of the highly affected
areas [Aleipata and Lepa will be awarded with these donations. A big
congratulations to the Management of the Australian Pacific Island Support
Group as nothing would have been possible with out their financial support.
4.
Disability
Networks singing from the same page
(Source: http://adpn.org.nz/2010/disability-networks-singing-from-the-same-page/)
The latest
umbrella organisation for disability service providers in New Zealand to be
launched is NZ Disability Support Network Inc
(NZDSN) and works as a national organisation. The newly appointed CEO of
NZDSN, Sandie Waddell, will be speaking at the next meeting for the Auckland Disability Providers Network (ADPN)
on Thursday 29th July 2010 about the organisation and its function. ADPN will also hold their AGM at the same meeting.
It is important
that a strong bond is established between the two organisations. ‘The
disability sector must work together if we are to achieve better conditions for
the people we serve.’
Come and meet
Sandie and members of the ADPN Executive who work to represent members, aiming
for “an inclusive future”
Venue: Western Springs Garden Community Hall
956-990 Great North Road
Opposite Western Springs Park
Time: 10.00 am to 12.30 pm
Morning tea
5.
PDF
Executive Committee welcomes new members
(Source: Mr. Setareki Macanawai, PDF CEO)
In the last Executive Committee (Exco)
teleconference held on the 4th June, 2010, the PDF Exco accorded
Full membership status for;
Ø
Deaf Aotearoa
New Zealand
Ø
Tonga National Disability Congress
The number of Full Members for PDF now stands at 24
and Associate Members stand at 18.
6.
PDF
welcomes its new Gender\Youth Officer and DPO Development Officer
(Source: Program Team, PDF)
PDF welcomed Ms. Naomi Navoce on Monday 7th
June 2010 as its new Gender and Youth Officer. Ms. Naomi will be
responsible for women and youth with disabilities, taking over the reigns from Ms.
Angeline Chand.
Ms. Angeline Chand is now PDF’s DPO Development
Officer, responsible for initial capacity development for Disabled
Persons Organisation
Ms. Naomi Navoce can be contacted on email gender@pacificdisability.org
and Ms. Angeline Chand on email: development@pacificdisability.org
That
is all for this week. You have a lovely weekend and do keep in touch with PDF.
Regards,
FROM
THE PDF Team
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