In the occasion of International Volunteer Day, a very special dinner was organized for the volunteers at Gourmet restaurant on 8^th December  2011. The dinner was arranged to appreciate the unconditional support they have been providing to Care Society and provide an opportunity for them to interact in a friendly environment. This also turned out to be a good platform for all the volunteers and staffs to build a relationship and to have a fun time.

Care Society’s management acknowledged the work of volunteers and gifts were given to all the volunteers. A very special award “the Best Volunteer of the Year 2011” was given to Abdulla Aleem for his outstanding volunteer support and commitment given for Care.

Care Society would like to thank ALIA Investment Pvt Ltd for sponsoring the dinner night. Special thanks to management of the Gourmet restaurant for giving a special discount for the dinner. We would also like to thank Aunty and Muiz for capturing the beautiful moments of the night. Furthermore we extend our gratitude to all the volunteers and staff that made this day special.

Click to view slideshow.

Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Department of Information) and Ministry of Human Resources, Youth and Sports, had also shared their interest and the various areas that they can explore to better the lives of persons with disabilities.

On behalf of all the NGOs working in the disability field (Maldives Deaf Association, Blind and Visual Impairment Society of Maldives, Care Society, Association for Disability Development,  and Autism Association) Care Society’s Director Shidhatha Shareef gave a presentation on the role of NGOs , the challenges faced, and also the recommendations to the respective sectors.

After each presentation the floor was opened for Questions and answers. Group discussions were held to discuss how to speed up the implementation of Disability Act (8/2010), how to acquire budgets, and how to establish a disability network. After the discussions a steering committee was elected from the participants to work on forming the network. The committee includes representatives from Human Rights Commission of Maldives, National Social Protection Agency, Association for Disability Development, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Department of Information), and Disability Council and also representatives from Persons with Disabilities.

A declaration was drafted including the comments, recommendations and also highlighting the areas that need to be addressed immediately with regard to the Disability Act (8/2010). The declaration was co-signed by the Disability Council, Ministry of Health and Family, and NGOs. On behalf of the NGOs Care Society signed the declaration.

It would be the responsibility of all the sectors to work as a team to achieve the goals agreed in the declaration.

Left to Right: Shidhatha Shareef, the Director of Care Soceity; Fathimath Afiya, The Deputy Minister of The Ministry of Health and Family & Ahmed Athif, The President of Disability Council.

In order to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Care Society held an event at Raalugandu on 3^rd December. The purpose of the event was to create awareness on disability related issues among the public. With regard to this a lot of activities were carried on.  Various kind of information related to disabilities were given to children and parents. Heads promoting the rights of Persons with Disabilities were given to the children. Gifts were also given to the children who learned at least one thing about disabilities, these in turn motivated children to learn and seek more information. Games like work game and target game were played which made people more ware about different kinds of disabilities and disability related accessible signs. Outdoor games like sit down volleyball were introduced to promote inclusive games for the persons with disabilities; cutting game was introduced help the children and youth to empathize with the persons with disabilities. Drawings by children on the theme disability were made. A Learn SIGN LANGUAGE game was carried on to make children and youth to get familiarized with the sign language used by the persons with hearing impairment.

A jumble sale and a photo shoot stall was also arranged to get fund for the Care Development Centre (CDC), a special school run by Care Society. The photo shoot stalls was organized by “Touch Life Photography” studio.

We would like to thank all the volunteers of Care for their full support and cooperation to make this event a success. We would also like to thank Happy Market, Touch Life Photography and Male City Council for sponsorships and support they have offered.

Jumble Sale

Drawing

Information counter: Answer and win a gift

Maji showing the signs of alphabet in Sign Language

Nashiz  and Safa in charge of the Jumble sale with Aleef

Stalls

Stalls

Looba giving information about Disabilities

Luha & Yazeedh facilitating the word game

Sit Down Volly Ball

The Care Team who made the event a success

On 25^th November Care participated in the “DID YOU KNOW” Campaign, a UNDP-run campaign called ‘Access to Justice’ to raise awareness on the Maldives legal system and rights.  Care Society has participated to make the public about different kinds of disabilities, United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the National Disability Act of Maldives (8/2010).

Aishath Looba, the Deputy Director of Care Society giving a brief of the awareness activities carried out in the stall

Stall of Care Society

Aminath Sidhuna showing Signs of the letters used in the Sign Language

Target Game: Introducing the accessible disability signs.

On 26^th November Care participated in the WALK WITH FRIENDS FOR DIABETES to the mark the World Diabetes Day…  In which the staffs and volunteers of Care Society participated in the walk with other organization from 5:00 to 6:00 pm.

• Calendar was made from the month of March 2011 to February 2012 (12 months) to promote the articles of the UNCRPD and Disability Act (8/2010). The pictures of persons with disabilities, representatives of DPOs and the Disability Council were used in related articles.
• Awareness workshop in Male’: On 17^th April a 2 hour session was conducted to create awareness on UNCRPD and Disability Act for the staffs and volunteers of Care Society. And on 26^th of October a Stakeholders forum was conducted to create awareness as well as to create a platform to discuss different issues and way forward to work in this field. Presentation on UNCRPD was given by Care Society and presentation on Disability Act and the work of the council was given by the Disability council. Human Rights Commission of Maldives, Gender and Family Protection Unit, National Social Protection Agency and Ministry of Education has also given an update of their disability related works.
• Workshop in G.Dh Thinadhoo: On 21^st April a two hour awareness session on UNCRPD and Disability Act was conducted for the parents of the persons with disabilities. On 22^nd April a four hour session was taken for the teachers on Disability information, areas where a teacher can work with a child with disability and also gave a introduction of developing behavior management program for students. On 24^th April one day workshop was conducted for the stakeholders in the island on UNCRPD and Disability Act (8/2010).
• Workshop in Gn Foavmulah: On 9^th May one day stakeholder’s awareness session was conducted. On 10^th and 11^th May Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) session was taken for the volunteers of Youth Society and also certificates were issued for the participant.
• Workshop in L. Foanadhoo and Gan: On 13^th July and 14^th July one day workshop on UNCRPD and Disability Act was conducted in L Fonadhoo and Gan respectively.
• Under this project leaflets were also made advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities. and also work were done for advocating Care Society and Child Sponsorship programmes.

The reception started with the recitation of Quran with its meaning. A speech was given by Director, Care Society, Shidhatha Shareef in which how CDC started and the objectives as well as the challenges and the changes that have taken place since then were highlighted.

The speech was followed by appreciation certificates handed to volunteers who have been working for more than a year, contributors, previous and current staff who have worked at CDC for 1-5 years, and parties involved in child sponsorship program which includes companies, individuals, and parents as well.

There were some special awards given to persons who had worked at CDC for more than 5 years. These awards were given to Fathmath Afiya as a pioneer in starting CDC, to Shafeenaz Saeed for her dedication and contribution, to Fazna Najeeb in serving CDC as a teacher, a supervisor and a program manager, to Shina Wajeeh for her service, to Aishath Looba for heading CDC as its Deputy Principal, to Shidhatha Shareef for always being a part of CDC, and Shiyaza Mohamed Didi for her continuous dedication in working for CDC.

The highlight of the event was the art and craft work of CDC students displayed at the reception which were available for purchase to interested parties. These works included drawings, collages, handmade flowers and other items.

The reception served as an advocacy platform for CDC as well. Lintel Investments and Management Services pledged to continue their child sponsorship program for another year, Eve Garments agreed to provide CDC teachers with a working uniform for the next year, Maldives Ports Limited pledged to sponsor 2 students for 1 year, and Haveeru Daily agreed to provide a spot on their newspaper for the next year free of charge.
Although some companies were unable to attend the ceremony they too agreed to continue their role in the child sponsorship program.  Tropic Surf who is currently sponsoring 12 students agreed to continue for the next year and a company of Universal, Per Aquum also agreed to continue sponsoring 11 students for the next year.Click to view slideshow.

The event started around 4:00 pm with the National Anthem played by Kalaafan School Brass Band. This was followed by the school songs of participants. The first activity was a Drill performed by students from Care Development Centre and Jamaluddin School. CDC and Js students (1 to 10 years) started the game with Baton Relay, followed by Picking Flower played by the students of CDC. The Tunnel Race (5 to 13 years) participated by the CDC children. Water Balancing (5 to 10 years), Sand Bag Pulling (10 to 15 years), Baton Relay (15 to 30 years) and Water balloon Race (15 to 30 years) was participated by the students of CDC and JS. In between the games, a cute dance performance was given by the students of Maafannu Madharusa. A Floor Aerobics Routine was facilitated by the members of Empower Fitness with the students of CDC and JS. This was followed by the games of Imaduddin School which included Baton Relay, Bean Bag, Balloon bursting, and Sack Race. The activities ended with a Baton Relay and 100m run by Maldives Deaf Association.

The Closing Ceremony began with the awarding of Trophies and gift packs to the participants. Memorandums were also given to Male’ City Council, Kalaafan School, , Maldives National Cadet co. Galolhu Madharusa, Maafannu Madharusa, Empower Fitness, Maldives Police Services, ADK Hospital and the hosts for their contribution to make the event a success.

Care Society believes that this is the very beginning of a new journey that will open new doors for the Persons with Disabilities to excel in the field of sports.

Time for practice and rehearsal:

Practices will be held from the 25^th to the 28^th at Henveiru Football Ground from 4-6pm.

There will be a full rehearsal on the 29^th Thursday at Henveiru Football Ground from 4-6pm.

On Friday practice on Henveriu Football Ground will be from 9 – 11 am.

Special Sport Festival

Date: 1^st October 2011

Time: 4:00 to 6:00

Venue: Henveiru Football Ground

PHOTO: Practice on 26th September 2011