World Disability Advocacy: Coordinators - Not Managers - of Human-Rights Projects

Posted by Kenneth A. Masson on Oct 19, 2021
Disability Advocates Disabillity Advisers Diversity Equity Inclusion People with Disabilities
As we move forward with our Club, it is important to remember that when we were chartered last June by Rotary International, we said that our Club will be a coordinator of human-rights projects rather than a manager of those projects. Most Rotary clubs take on and manage projects that meet one or more of Rotary's Seven Areas of Focus. They are involved in managing the project by providing people with power and/or funding.
 
(Shown: Poster of raised hands of people of various skin colors, with this quote from Nelson Mandela: "To Deny People Their Human Rights Is To Challenge Their Very Humanity.")
 
We are different. When a need is identified, it is our role to put the factors together that may result in a project. That means we will communicate the need, connect the groups that can meet that need, and facilitate a collaboration of several factors to turn that need into a successful project. For example, a group in Kenya wants to give out hearing aids to children in a deaf school. 
 
I also want to clarify the difference between our Club and its committees. The Clubs focuses on human-rights need for people with disabilities around the world. The committees focus on accessibility and inclusion within Rotary
 
I urge all of you to become involved. There are several ways of being involved, including being added to subcommittees in certain countries and getting involved in researching whether the needs of those involved. subcommittees have the elements to make a good project
 
I will be glad to add you to our WhatsApp group for any of these subcommittees: Kenya, Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Brazil, United States; and Para Sports.
 
You are welcome to be a part of the research on any of these current projects, events and activities:
  • Kindness Day on November 13
  • Disabilities Day on December 3
  • Mentor program in India
  • Resource database for government services in New Delhi, India
  • Vocational projects for children in India and Nepal
  • Rotaract clubs in Uganda and Kenya
  • Inclusion game in India
  • Toastmaster Clubs for people with disabilities around the World
  • Mental-health programs in Uganda and Kenya
  • Mental-health needs in Kenya
  • Hearing-aid program in Kenya
  • Clubfoot project in Kenya
  • Rotary webinar in Kenya and Ethiopia
  • Awareness podcast
  • Vocational-training program in Malawi
  • Camp-training program in Nigeria
  • Dance program in Brazil
  • Accessibility and inclusion
  • Education programs in Brazil
  • Rotary speakers program
  • Awareness program
  • Advocacy webinar
  • ParaSports webinar
  • Club Accessibility Officer creation
  • Advocacy-leadership training
I also urge you to use your advocacy skills to identify possible human-rights programs around the world Thanks for being a part of this historic movement in Rotary.
 
To read our Club's entire October 19 newsletter, including my President's Message, above, click here.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For more information on our worldwide Club, contact me, Ken Masson, via either WhatsApp or kennethmasson@gmail.com.