New disabled people's organisation

A new disabled people's organisation (DPO) was established in East Timor in 2006. ASSERT is trying to support this new initiative. Below is a summary of the organisation's activities so far, written by Joaozito dos Santos, a member of the DPO.

Kra’as Hadomi Timor Oan (original languages Tetum, means that to love all (not only person with problem of the legs or blinds) disabilities people in East Timor.) is the name of the DPO. The name is chosen by the vote of the all members of DPOs.
This organization is independent. And wanted to emphasize and empower the right of persons with disabilities (PWD). To advocated, to aware community and encourage.

Short Story
The first DPO started on 21st of Aug.2006. While the crisis of the political in East Timor is happening actually. First of the meeting is just to discussed about the problem that affected with disabilities people and the other one is about the right for disabilities people.

The first meeting is already decided to make the regular meeting for every month. Per once meeting for a month. There 16 persons are come to take participated for the meeting some of them are from People with Disabled and some of them are from staffs NGOs (ASSERT and TLMI). ASSERT and TLMI are facilitated only for DPO (example car for distributed and pick up members of DPO and money for snack and lunch).

Resulted of the first meeting talked about how to protect and rise up People with Disabled right to participate and get the accessibilities in the process of development in East Timor. Some of ideas are come from PWD that very critical.

This organization is initiated by some of people and gave the activities are done and responsible by Mr. Joaozito dos Santos and Mr. Mateus. And got supported ideas by Mrs. Louise (ASSERT), Mrs. Angelika (TLMI – The Leprosy Mission International), Mr. Jose Manuel do Carmo (TLMI) and others friends. Got the supporting to facilitated this organization from TLMI and ASSERT.

Recently ASSERT supported $500.00 for DPO to facilitated their activities (e.g. Transportation, snack and another else).

The activities that already done are:

1. During at this time DPO just to organized the small group discussion. The discussion just tried to find out the PWD’s problems that affected them. And the other one is discussed about the right for DPO and it’s much focused and become the important issue for DPO in East Timor. And the other discussion did take the decision to named for the DPO is Kra’as Hadomi Timor Oanwhile it’s just urgent named of the resulted of discussion of members.
2. Participated in International day for PWD in Aileu on 3^rd of December 2006.
3. Joined the meeting with Disability Working Group.
4. Joined the workshop related with DPO and CBR program.

These meeting are participated of the represented from government some NGOs that related to the PWD’s issue.

Vision and mission of Kra’as Hadomi Timor Oan

Vision

· To force and empower the integrity (solidarity) for disabled people.

· Protect and interest for disabled people right in the part of development process and get the accessibilities as the others citizen.

· To maintenance and rise up the disabilities dignities in the same right and same equalities as other citizen.

· To fight and eradicate the discrimination with disabilities people and give the opportunity for disabilities people to take and participate in all areas of the process of development.

Mission

To empowering advocacy for disabilities people in the part of Education, rise up the human resources for disabilities in society. To emphasize the human right for disabilities people (the policy for disabilities people), awareness the community to involve the people with disabled through the workshop, civic education. Making monitoring and recording the information for people with disabilities.

Objective:

To instill self-confidence, encourage self-reliance and meet the individual needs of persons with disabilities. APD also aims to create awareness, and promote acceptance and integration within society of people with disabilities.