Activities Report for the Month of January-March, 2023
Saaya Centre for Independent Living PAKISTAN SPECIAL
Asim Zaffar
Saaya Association (Organization of Disabled Persons) is registered (VSWA/ICT/562), non-profit and cross disability association, which supports people with disabilities (PWDs), enabling them to realize their full potential through new opportunities, personal choice, and community involvement. The association is working for improving the ultimate status with dignity of people with disabilities. Saaya is focused on Independent Living, Inclusive education, Barrier Free & Right-Based society and access to Justice.
Saaya Centre for Independent Living Supported by HANDS
HANDS Supporting to Saaya Centre for Independent Living located in Islamabad to assist persons with disabilities to achieve greater independence by providing services and activities which enhance independent living skills and promote the public’s understanding, accommodation, and acceptance of their rights, needs and abilities. Saaya Independent Living Centre provides the opportunity to develop skills in the negotiation process, organizational abilities, mutual support, information sharing and often vocational skills and opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Services by Saaya Centre for Independent Living
- Advocacy and providing technical skills in making manuals, setting up seminars, arranging lectures for symposiums, internship programs and accepting and educating trainees
- Saaya Independent Living center
- Recruiting and training staff of Independent Living center
- Attendant Service
- Awareness raising regarding disability issues through creative ideas
- Natural disaster management training regarding persons with disabilities
- Counselling and expertise provider for integrating appropriate measures for People with Disabilities in the Infrastructure Sector
- Provision of assistive devices
- Computer training courses for persons with disabilities (Hands on training on Microsoft Office)
- Psychosocial support training
- Publishing newsletters for information exchange
- Workshop for Manual & Electric wheelchairs maintenance
- Alternative Hand Control Systems for Vehicles
- Offer exchange program between centers for persons with disabilities across the country
- Connect and engage, a special program designed for women with disabilities
- Sports Activities
- Accessibility audit of Islamabad by Persons with disabilities
January-2023
Person with Disability visited Saaya Independent Living Centre on 2nd January, 2023
Mr. Muhammad Faisal khan belongs to Rawalpindi. He has multiple disability. He visited Saaya Independent living Centre for the first time in his life so that he may be able to learn how he can manage his disability properly. At the start of discussion he was very shy and was not able to talk to anyone because of lack of confidence but after the discussion with Saaya team he was very happy and motivated.
Team of the Rural Education and Economic Development Society visited Saaya Independent Living Center on 3rd January, 2023
The team of the Rural Education and Economic Development Society visited Saaya Independent Living Center. The main purpose of the visit was collaboration and support among both organizations, especially in different activities and programs for the inclusion of persons with disabilities and to provide maximum knowledge to society about the importance of Inclusion.
The Training was conducted by Saaya Team organized by AAR Japan and Saaya ILC on “Sensitivity and Inclusivity of Persons with Disabilities and Role of OPDs in Rights-based Development Process” for parents of Children with Disability under the Project of Inclusive Education by AAR Japan held on 11th January,2023
The Training was conducted by Saaya Team organized by AAR Japan and Saaya ILC on “Sensitivity and Inclusivity of Persons with Disabilities and Role of OPDs in Rights-based Development Process” for parents of Children with Disability under the Project of Inclusive Education by AAR Japan.The main purpose of training was to provide maximum knowledge to parents about the importance of inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Rights-based Development Process and how these children can play their positive part in the development of society in the near future.
The outreach activity was jointly organized by Saaya Team and AAR Japan in different locations of Islamabad for parents of Children with Disability under the Project of Inclusive Education by AAR Japan held on 12th January, 2023
The outreach activity was jointly organized by Saaya Team and AAR Japan in different locations of Islamabad for parents of Children with Disability under the Project of Inclusive Education by AAR Japan.The main purpose of this activity for parents was to understand the importance of outreach activities. These activities also have a positive effect on the health of their children.
Saaya Team has participated in CBID National Conference 2023 Theme: Paradigm of Development, Economy and Equity, Unsolved Dilemma of Inclusion and Social Mainstream held on 17-18 January, 2023.
Saaya Team has participated in CBID National Conference 2023 Theme: Paradigm of Development, Economy and Equity, Unsolved Dilemma of Inclusion and Social Mainstream. The main purpose of the conference was to learn about the Rights of persons with disabilities in the process and their positive role in the development of society.
Five Days Monthly Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development for Students with Disabilities for the Month of December at Saaya Independent Living Center held on 23-27 January, 2023.
Saaya Independent Living Center Organized 5 Days Monthly Internship Program for the month of January, 2023 Supported by HANDS from 23-27 January, 2023 on”Coherent Capacity Development for Persons with Disabilities” exclusively.
One of the ideas of having these sessions is to brainstorm our fellows and aware the individuals regarding the understanding on disability and its consequences and to enable them mobilize out of the isolation and contribute to the personal and communal development. All the active participants have been presented with appreciation certificates by the Dr. Sarwat Mirza Senior Advisor for Health HANDS and National Coordinator CBID Network along with Ms. Sumera Javed Executive Manager HANDS. We’re always grateful for the very sound support by HANDS Pakistan for encouraging & supporting the sessions.
February-2023
Person with Disability visited Saaya Independent Living Centre on 10th February, 2023
Mr.Muhammad Ahmad visited Saaya Independent living centre along his uncle and cousin. He has multiple disabilities. He came here for some information and to know the proper management of life with a disability. At the start of discussion he was very shy and was not able to talk to anyone because of lack of confidence but after the discussion with Saaya team he was very happy and motivated.
Five Days Monthly Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development for Students with Disabilities for the Month of December at Saaya Independent Living Center held on 20-24 February, 2023.
Saaya Independent Living Center Organized 5 Days Monthly Internship Program for the month of February,2023 Supported by HANDS from 20-24 February, 2023 on”Coherent Capacity Development for Persons with Disabilities” exclusively.
One of the ideas of having these sessions is to brainstorm our fellows and aware the individuals regarding the understanding on disability and its consequences and to enable them mobilize out of the isolation and contribute to the personal and communal development. All the active participants have been presented with appreciation certificates by the Dr. Sarwat Mirza Senior Advisor for Health HANDS and National Coordinator CBID Network along with Ms. Sumera Javed Executive Manager HANDS. We’re always grateful for the very sound support by HANDS Pakistan for encouraging & supporting the sessions.
Person with Disability visited Saaya Independent Living Centre on 28th February, 2023
Ihsan Ullah belongs to Islamabad. He has inverted feet disability. It was his first ever visit to any organization of persons with disabilities. At the start of discussion he was very depressed and was unable to express his feelings properly as he was not happy with his life but as discussion proceeds he become comfortable in sharing the problems which he was facing in his daily life. This visit provided him base to come out of depression phase slowly. Before leaving he was quite happy and promised to try his best to do something good not only for himself as well as others.
March-2023
Celebration of International Women’s Day on 8th March, 2023
Saaya Association and HANDS jointly organized an event in collaboration with Macdonald and Sightsaver for Women with & without disabilities and the General Public to Observed International Women Day 2023. Theme: “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.
The main objective of this event was to spotlight the significant contributions of women in society and draw attention to the obstacles and challenges that women with disabilities continue to face, emphasizing the need for gender equality. This includes promoting equal access to education, healthcare, job opportunities, and advancing reproductive work systems such as science, technology, politics, arts, sports, and business.
Five Days Monthly Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development for Students with Disabilities for the Month of December at Saaya Independent Living Center held on 13-17 March, 2023.
Saaya Independent Living Center Organized 5 Days Monthly Internship Program Supported by HANDS from 13-17 March, 2023 on”Coherent Capacity Development for Persons with Disabilities” exclusively.
One of the ideas of having these sessions is to brainstorm our fellows and aware the individuals regarding the understanding on disability and its consequences and to enable them mobilize out of the isolation & contribute to the personal and communal development. All the active participants have been presented with appreciation certificates by the Dr. Sarwat Mirza Senior Advisor for Health HANDS and National Co-Ordinator CBID Network. We’re always grateful for the very sound support by HANDS Pakistan for encouraging & supporting the session.
Karwan Group Adult training on understanding of disability, barriers for women with disabilities, self-Management and personal hygiene for women with disabilities held on 21st March, 2023
Karwan group adult training on understanding of disability, barriers for women with disabilities, self-Management and personal hygiene for women with disabilities and their mothers was organized by AAR and conducted by Ms. Ayesha Sajid and Ms. Saiqa Iftikhar Team members of Saaya at Haripur on 21st March 2023. The main purpose of this training was to make them understand how women with disabilities can manage their life with disability properly and how their mothers can help them. The session on self-management was also conducted to let them understand its importance in life.
Food distribution Ceremony for Women\Persons with Disabilities at Saaya Independent Living held on 24th March, 2023.
Many people with disabilities may not have enough money to spend on food. In this regard Saaya ILC has distributed food pack among families of Person with disabilities in this Ramzan. The aim of the food distribution is to make their life easy by providing them food.
Case Studies for the Month of January-March, 2023
1. Name: Ms.Ambreen
Father Name: Mr.Muhammad Din
Age: 30 Years
Disability: Deaf & Mute
City: Rawalpindi
Ambreen belongs to Rawalpindi. She is deaf and mute. She has done F.A from Sir Syed College Rawalpindi. She has done different computer, stitching, beautician and embroidery courses from NTCSP.She has no awareness about her disability. She has participated in 5 days Internship program on Coherent Capacity development for students with disabilities at Saaya Independent Living Centre and gained confidence and able to face the world with courage
2. Name: Memoona Abbas
Father Name: Syed Ghulam Abbas
Age: 24 Years
Disability: Visually Impaired
City: RawalpindiMs.Mehmoona Abbas belongs to Rwalpindi.She is Visually Impaired. She has got this disability in her childhood. When she born with this disability her family prayed that she should die as soon as possible due to non-acceptance of her disability. Her brother who is with same disability motivates her to start education and she took admission in Special education and completed her matriculation from there. After that she took admission in B.A from F-7\2 College and completed her degree successfully. At that time her mother started supporting her as she saw some potential that she may be able to do something good for her better future. During that time she won many awards in extra curricular activities. Currently she is doing Masters in sociology from Fatima Jinnah women University Rawalpindi. She has participated in 5 days Internship program on Coherent Capacity development for students with disabilities at Saaya Independent Living Centre to learn that how she can manage her life with disability more efficiently. Now she is confident enough to face the world with courage.
3. Name: Ms.Sidra Bostan
Father Name: Mirza Bostan Khan
Age: 25Years
Disability: Visually Impaired
City: Rawalpindi
Ms.Sidra who is visually impaired shared her life story that how she is living her life with disability in a positive manner. Inspite of her disability she is willing to achieve so many things in life and has positive approach towards life. She has participated in 5 days Internship program on Coherent Capacity development for students with disabilities at Saaya Independent Living Centre to learn that how she can manage her life with disability more efficiently. Now she is confident enough to face the world with courage. She is currently working in Pakistan Association for the Blind and willing to serve in society for the betterment of visually impaired persons.