Including everybody in Bangladesh
A huge part of our social inclusion work is supporting blind and disabled peoples’ groups to realise and fight for their rights.
‘Social inclusion’ means literally that – the inclusion of people in societies and communities. With regard to people who are blind or have low vision this not only means working to help them gain equal rights, but also helping society understand and respect those rights.
In Bangladesh, Sightsavers and its partner ABC work with people who are visually impaired in the district of Narshingdi.
Although a number of people here benefited from training which helped to improve their daily living skills and earning abilities, (many trained as poultry farmers) they still felt isolated. With encouragement from ABC, the Shilmandi Union Self Help Group formed in 2009. Before the group existed, almost all of the members hadn’t met another person with a disability like theirs.
We have learned to work well together and have achieved far more than we could on our own
The group currently has 15 members, all of whom are blind except for one man who has a physical impairment. ABC delivered training and support to help the group function and work together to achieve their goals.
“We have learned to work well together and have achieved far more than we could on our own,” says Abdul Motin Molla, the group’s chairman.
In a short space of time, the group has progressed towards their goal of achieving their rights. Each member is now officially registered as disabled and receives the government disability allowance. The group is growing in confidence in what they can achieve together, and attendance at their meetings is rising. They have ambitious plans such as campaigning for discounted travel on local transport, opening a bank account for the group, and establishing an office of their own.
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