Inclusive education
It is estimated that only 1-2% of children with disabilities in developing countries receive any education. Many school buildings are not accessible for children with physical impairments. Children with hearing impairments are often thought of as unintelligent or unable to communicate because they require and use different means to interact with their environment. A significant lack of specialized teachers also complicates the inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools. But access to primary education for all children is a key condition for the development of each individual as well as of a country.
Education for everybody
Similar to the concept of Community Based Rehabilitation, educating children with disabilities within their usual familiar environment achieves the best results. By attending a regular school they are not separated from their friends and family but remain within their community.
LIGHT FOR THE WORLD advocates for the inclusion of children with disabilities in regular schools whenever possible. Inclusive Schools, the training of special education teachers and resource centers to provide assistance to educational institutions including children with disabilities are supported. Furthermore, support is provided for programmes providing technical skill trainings. Teachers trained in sign language, tutors for children with a learning disability and specific teaching material such as Braille books are important prerequisites for inclusive education.
In North East India, the Mary Rice Centre offers inclusive education in schools, different therapies and vocational training to children with disabilities. Over 130 children are supported directly in the centre and more then 60 children visit the facility on a weekly basis. In addition, to support these children a main focus remains on strengthening and empowering their parents and families.
Child Sponsorship Programme
To ensure support for children with disabilities on a long-term basis, LIGHT FOR THE WORLD offers a child sponsorship programme in Austria for children in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Bolivia. A monthly contribution of EUR 25 ensures stable support of the programme and facilitates the planning process.
In Manga, Burkina Faso, over 1000 children were reached by field workers in 2008, through our local partner organisation OCADES, which dedicates its work to the reduction of poverty. In southern Ethiopia the Community Based Rehabilitation programme in Arba Minch is being expanded to reach 900 more children with disabilities in neighbouring regions in 2009.