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NASCOH embarks on children's rights programme
National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH)
June 21, 2007

The National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH), in conjunction with seven of its 53 member organisations, has embarked on a three-year programme aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of children with disabilities. The programme, which is being funded by the United Children's Education Fund, UNICEF, is being run under the government's National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, and is guided by the fundamental principle of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), that all young people should get the chance to grow up in a protective, nurturing and stimulating environment, right from the beginning, and that children with disabilities are entitled to the same rights as others.

The programme, which is argeting an identified disability population of 21 000, will be conducted in the following areas: Mashonaland East: (Mudzi and Chikomba), Mashonaland West: (Zvimba North and South), Manicaland, Mashonaland Central: (Bindura, Mvurwi and Mount Darwin), Midlands (Gokwe South, Lower Gweru, Silobela and Kwekwe), Matebeleland South: (Matobo, Gwezha, Marko and Beula) and Masvingo: (Chivi, Chiredzi and Mwenezi).

The seven implementing organisations, which are working under the coordination of NASCOH are already active in these areas and will simply be scaling up on activities that they are already implementing. Implementing organisations are Jairos Jiri Association for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled and Blind; Zimbabwe National Association for Mental Health; Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association; Zimbabwe National League of the Blind; NZEVE; ROKPA and King George VI Children's Rehabilitation Centre. The implementing organisations cover the whole spectrum of disability categories and, due to their experience and close association with people with disabilities in general and children with disabilities in particular, are best placed to implement target specific interventions that ensure the creation of an accommodating, stimulating and protective environment for children with disabilities, thus setting the stage for their integration and meaningful participation in society.

In order to allow for smooth implementation of the programme, NASCOH has since conducted pre-award assessments on implementing organisations to assess corporate governance and training needs in Mutare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare; conducted a report back workshop with the sub-grantees on the findings of the visits; conducted basic training on Monitoring and Evaluation for sub-grantees; and drew up partnership and code of conduct agreements which have since been signed by the sub grantees. All implementing organisations have already submitted their activity plans for their respective projects and funding is being processed, with some organisations having already received their first tranche of funding.

The programme is aimed at ensuring, among other issues, the enjoyment by children with disabilities of equal access to opportunities and freedoms that society accords; the enhancement of their identity, human dignity and visibility which will ultimately lead to increased activism in defending their rights; their inclusion in existing development activities; the creation of a safe and secure legal environment that protects children with disabilities and the empowerment of the community to fight oppression, discrimination and poverty through the provision of community education.

NASCOH is fully cognisant of the overwhelming barriers that children with disabilities face in accessing the fundamental rights and freedoms that other children take for granted. The organisation therefore greatly appreciates the assistance that has been received from UNICEF in this regard and hopes that children with disabilities in all the targeted provinces, districts and wards are going to benefit from this funding.

Visit the NASCOH fact sheet

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