BACKGROUND
In October 2004, Helen Pitt and Kerry Thomas discussed
the idea of organising a working visit to Tigray, the
northern most province in Ethiopia. This grew out of
our ongoing interest and contact with the people of Tigray
which began during the mid-1980s in the refugee
camps of Sudan, and subsequent relief and development
activities that we and others have been involved with.
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Tigray women planning with Helen Pitt in 2003 |
The Tigray Initiative
was prompted by the continuing concern we have for the
ongoing difficulties being faced by the people of Tigray,
and their approaches for further assistance. It was also
felt that the experiences that many of us have gained,
technically and professionally over the years could contribute
in sectors such as health, disability, social development
and the environment – areas that we have since
come to understand can still benefit from additional
support.
We also recognise that the people of Tigray have much
to contribute to our understanding of the major issues
that confront the world, including poverty, environmental
degradation, health and social service constraints and
the prevalence of disability.
The Tigray Initiative has thus been convened as a means
to forge partnerships through which we can learn together,
contributing to practical development and positive outcomes
for vulnerable people – in Tigray and beyond.
An initial scoping and feasibility visit was made by
Helen in February 2005. This confirmed:
| - |
the depth and scope of need and provided
updated insights about the context |
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the opportunities for contributing to the address
of needs and issues, including a commitment by the
authorities to progressing action on these fronts |
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support for the concept of an ‘integrated
regional disability strategy’ |
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an invitation to be part of the process in developing
these. |
A team of people have come together, under the leadership
of Helen Pitt, to take forward this Initiative. During
2005, three of these people will be working with Helen
and counterparts in Tigray, while several others are
providing valuable technical, communication, administrative
and fundraising support from Australia and other countries.
We envisage that this is the beginning of a longer term
relationship, the nature of which will unfold as we go
along.
The Goal
To assist in the development of an Integrated Disability
Strategy for Tigray, Ethiopia using a participatory
action research-learning approach.
Development of an Integrated Disability Strategy will
bring together economic, social, ecological and political
considerations and a multi-sectoral response framework.
Objectives
| 1. |
In collaboration with local counterparts,
explore the context and current status of disability
and disability action/services in Tigray, and make
recommendations, by the end 2005, for development
of an Integrated Disability Strategy. |
| 2. |
To assist in identifying capacity building needs,
developing resource materials and undertaking capacity
building activities as appropriate. |
| 3. |
To raise awareness about whole of life issues
for people with disability and promote positive images
and flexible, innovative options for addressing diverse
needs, with people and organisations in Tigray, and
elsewhere (e.g. in Ethiopia and Australia) as appropriate. |
| 4. |
To explore funding and support opportunities
for IRDS development, and raise funds and resources
as feasible to support existing projects/initiatives
(for the reasons as outlined in Objective 2) |
| 5. |
In working as team, to enhance our understanding
of relationships within the team, providing opportunities
for team and support members to share and learn from
one another. |
Further detail of these objectives, including indicative
activities and the approach we are using will shortly be
available on the interPART and Associates part of this
website.
For further information, contact either Helen Pitt or
Kerry Thomas at info@interpart.org.au
or
phone interPART on 61 8 8388 9918
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Rehabilitation Assistants with disabilities who were
trained in refugee camps during the civil war during
the 1980s |
A Rehab Assistant working out
in the field |
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Rehab Assistants
providing hospital support |
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