Resource Mobilization Roundtable for DPOs in Bangladesh

Action on Disability and Development (ADD) organized a National Roundtable on ‘Donors’ Support to DPOs in Bangladesh’ at BIAM Auditorium on 12 July 2009.

A good number of representatives from Disabled Peoples’ Organizations (DPOs) and leaders with disabilities from around the country participated in the discussion. This discussion was unique in a sense that it created an opportunity for direct sharing of small NGOs, DPOs and grassroots organizations with the representatives of three donor agencies DRF, ABILIS and ADD.

It was a very useful and time-worthy effort by ADD on the eve of DRF Grant Making Announcement. This discussion session included information sharing on resource mobilization for DPOs in Bangladesh and capacity building. Michael Szpurluk Programme Officer of Disability Rights Fund (DRF), USA, Jibon William Gomes, Facilitator of Abilis Foundation in Bangladesh and Sirazul Huq, Monitoring Coordinator of ADD shared valuable information during this discussion. On the eve of Second Round Grant Making Announcement of 2009, the presence of DRF Representative Michael Szpurluk in this discussion was significant. He shared the key issues of grant application process for Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and responded questions from the audience while Jibon William Gomes from ABILIS Foundation and Sirazul Huq from ADD shared pros and cons of resource mobilization for DPOs and its challenges in Bangladesh.

Michael Szpurluk Programme Officer of Disability Rights Fund (DRF), USA, Jibon William Gomes, Facilitator of Abilis Foundation in Bangladesh and Sirazul Huq, Monitoring Coordinator of ADD shared valuable information during this discussion. On the eve of Second Round Grant Making Announcement of 2009, the presence of DRF Representative Michael Szpurluk was significant. He shared many important issues on grant application process of Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and responded questions from the audience while Jibon William Gomes from ABILIS Foundation and Sirazul Huq from ADD shared pros and cons of resource mobilization for DPOs and its challenges in Bangladesh. Michael informed that the DRF Call for Proposal will be opened on 15 July 2009 and ends on 15 September 2009. He mentioned DRF provides funding as well as technical support to the applicants and strictly follows the time line. All relevant information will available on DRF website. He requested ADD to facilitate interested organizations in this regard.

The Honorable Minister, Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of Bangladesh Enamul Haq Mostafa Shahid MP was the Chief Guest of the program while ASM Mosharraf Hossain, Country Director, ADD presided over the discussion. The Chief Guest in his speech emphasized on donor support to disabled peoples’ organizations and to disseminate proper information on resource mobilization, rights and development to people with disabilities and all relevant stakeholders. He mentioned that the government is keen to take special measures for employment of people with disabilities. It has already doubled the budget for the development of the people with disabilities in the fiscal year 2009-10. He also urged for a public private partnership and coordinated efforts for a meaningful advancement of people with disabilities in Bangladesh.

ASM Mosharraf Hossain, Country Director, ADD and Chair of this session stressed on a participatory process of development including drafting of the law for people with disabilities in Bangladesh. Association for the Welfare of the Disabled People (AWDP), on behalf of its members and Executive Council conveys it’s thanks to ADD management to organize such an useful and time-worthy initiative when DRF representative Michael Szpurluk was on a monitoring visit to Bangladesh.

Manju's Publications on Disability

Publication Ceremony of Fahmida Manju Majid's short story 'Se Bari Nei' and a children's poetry`Chorano Chora' was held at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhaka on 3 July 2009.

The short story 'Se Bari Nei' is a children's story on Autism. The whole story is composed on a growing child having autism. It also focused on misunderstandings, difficulties and struggle of the family during rearing up such children.

The other book `Chorano Chora' is its 3rd edition, a poetry of fifty poems for children. The writer focused on strong awareness and motivational messages on all categories of children with disabilities through these poems. She viewed children, adolescents and girls with disabilities from the dimension of challenge, ability and success.

Leftist politician Haider Akbor Khan Rono, renowned Educationalist and pioneer Environment Activist Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder of GK and social change activist Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, educationalist Principal Shamse Ara Hossen, writer Ahmed Mazhar, poet Maruf Raihan and Sabina Hossen, Principal of SWAC spoke on the occasion while Dr. Shamim F Karim, Chairman, Department of Psychology, University of Dhaka presided over the ceremony. Celebrity Drama actress Shirin Bakul recited from one of the publications in her melodious voice in the ceremony.

Fahmida Manju Majid is the foremost writer in Bangladesh who has written a good number books of poems and short stories on multi-dimensional interactions of disability at individual, familial and social contexts.

Fahmida Manju is a psychologist, creative therapist, writer and a renowned storyteller of both hemispheres. Manju Majid is well known in Bangladesh as a media personality. She introduced disability program series in Bangladesh Television titled 'Sobar Shathe' and continued for about six years. She spent a long time in UK working for children with Down's Syndrom and Autism. She got British Nationality and worked for children with disability and BBC Bangla Service for a long durarion.

Fahmida Manju Majid is a caring lady with strong feelings for children and persons with disabilities. She has a close observation on the difficulties and impact of disability on the family, parents, neighbours and others in the society.

AWDP Treasurer Antora Ahmed and Coordinator
Md. Mahbubul Ashraf facilitated the program. AWDP wishes for a wider circulation of both the publications and good health to the writer.

Training opportunity

Sign Language Training at SSDL

Society of the Deaf & Sign Language Users (SDSL) is going to organize a sixteen-day long training course on Bangla Sign Language for grassroots leaders, development workers and managers of DPOs/NGOs at SDSL Office in Dhaka from July 3, 2009.

The fees for the training is Tk 3000.00 (Three thousand only) per participant that is inclusive of training & course materials. The classes will be held on every Friday and Saturday.

Contact for further details:

SOCIETY OF THE DEAF & SIGN LANGUAGE USERS

House # 80, Indira road, Farm gate, Dhaka 1215

Mobile: +8801716649186, + 88 01924800811 Email: sdsl.bangladesh@gmail.com

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Training on Inclusive Education

Bangladesh Protibodhi Foundation (BPF) will organize a ten day training workshop on inclusive education for students with disability at BPF from 5 July to 15 July 2009. The training will be conducted 6 days a week except Friday from 8:30 am to 2 pm daily.

Course fee for this training is Tk.5000/- (per person) and the registration should be done by June 30, 2009

Contact for further information:

Course Coordinator & Principal (Acting)

Bangladesh Institute of Special Education, Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation (BPF), 6 Barobag, Section-2, Mirpur, Dhaka-1216

Mobile: 01711613137, E-mail: bpfkal@bangla.net

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Training on Mastering dynamic web portal development

Development Research Network-D.Net is going to organize four day training on Mastering dynamic web portal development on 05.07.2009 to 08.07.2009 at D.Net, 6/8, Humayun Road, Block - B, Mohammadpur, Dhaka 1207.

This course focuses on the most essential and fundamental elements to build, launch and manage a CMS based dynamic web site.

The participants will learn from this training:
Why Joomla might be the best thing ever, how to apply a structured methodology for planning and building a website in Joomla, how to assemble and manage web site content, how to conduct basic site administration, how to avoid potential pitfalls and time wasters during web site construction

Objectives of the Training:
Learn web portal updating and maintenance without any coding or programming knowledge and skill development to develop new website using joomla.

Who Can Attend?

Individuals with little or no previous experience in building web sites on the Internet; Business owners who wish to use Joomla to promote their brand and reinforce their marketing and sales efforts on the Internet; Managers of nonprofit organizations and government agencies who want to use Joomla to facilitate community interaction, promote organizational transparency and/or enhance fund raising; Creative individuals who want to use Joomla to express their interests and ideas on the Internet or who want to build an online community.

Deadline for Registration of this course is 30 June 2009 and registration fee is Tk. 4000.00/ participant.

Contact for further information and Registration

D.Net, Development Research Network
6/8 Humayun Road, Block-B, Mohammadpur
Dhaka - 1207, Bangladesh

Phone: +88 02 9131424, +88 02 8124976
Fax: +88 02 814 20 21
Cell : 01714-071326, 01814 652496, 01814 652497
e-mail : training@dnet.org.bd

Bangladesh Starts Daylight Saving Time

Bangladesh advanced the clock by one hour
Bangladesh advanced the clock by an hour on June 19 at 11:00pm Friday to 12 midnight and starts Daylight Saving Time, for the first time, which is GMT +07:00 hours.

Clocks were advanced by an hour, to start counting Saturday an hour early, to have more daylight during evening hours and to save on the use of electricity.

Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, opened the cover of a replica watch and released a special

commemorative stamp at her official residence, Jamuna, at 10:44pm on Friday, minutes before clocks were to be moved an hour ahead from 11:00pm. The clock in Rajuk Bhaban was advanced to 12 midnight at 11:00pm. Bangladesh Television aired the events live.

The State Minister of Power and Energy Shamsul Haq Tuku said that the government estimates 250 megawatts of power per day can be saved by having more daylight hours in the evening so that people can avoid using electricity.

The Prime Minister has urged people to adjust to Daylight Saving Time being introduced to make the maximum use of limited energy resources.

In compliance to this urge Association for the welfare of the Disabled People AWDP-Bangladesh stretched its efforts to help others to adjust their PC time by installing small software from Microsoft. An optional update is available to update the Daylight Saving Time for Bangladesh for the year 2009 for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 based computers.

This update is available at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972423

After installing this software your computer will automatically adjust its time (advances by one hour and will back to the original time as soon as DST for Bangladesh ends.

Bangladesh’s time zone during the non-daylight saving period is known as Bangladesh Time (BDT), which has a time offset of UTC+6 hours. This time zone applies to the whole country and will shift to UTC+7 hours when DST occurs at midnight between June 19 and 20, 2009.

Time-related information on Dhaka, Bangladesh, can be found in the World Clock. Time-related information on other cities in Bangladesh can be found in the World Clock – long list. Also, visit Commonly reported problems with the World Clock if the chosen city’s correct time is not shown or to understand more about Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and its difference from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Job opportunity at GTZ

GTZ an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations invites applications from suitable candidates for the position of “Programme Support Manager” for its Gender, Rights and Governance Programme at Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Deadline for Application:20 June 2009

Encouragement: Women and persons with impairment are especially encouraged to apply.

Special Mention: Women and persons with impairment will be selected in case of equal qualification with other candidates.

Job Title: Programme Support Manager

Educational Requirements: Masters degree (Masters in Business Administration is preferred)

Experience & knowledge required: Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar position, Excellent command of MS-Office, Good working knowledge of modern telecommunication systems (telephone, fax, e-mail, internet)

Other Requirements:

• Familiarity with development-cooperation/agencies, bilateral or multilateral organizations
• Works well under pressure and is a strong team player
• Experience in organizing and drawing up concepts for events, training courses and fact-finding missions
• Sound knowledge of Development Cooperation (DC) / Technical Cooperation (TC) and relevant instruments
• International experience (in order to be able to work in a multicultural environment)
• Independent, highly motivated staff member who is willing to learn, and is open and flexible in an international work context.
• Fluency in English and Bangla and good writing skills in both languages. Knowledge of German an added advantage
• Willingness to travel to project sites as required

Job Responsibility:

• Developing and maintaining contacts with all partners and relevant stakeholders
• Acting as liaison to and cooperating with the GTZ office in Dhaka and other GTZ offices world wide to facilitate programme activities
• Observing and participating in the communication and interaction between government institutions (within the programme), non-government organizations and other relevant stakeholders through direct dialogue, participation in forums, seminars, etc.
• Facilitating and maintaining information sharing among various programme components
• Interfacing between the programme office in GTZ, the project office, and counterparts assigned by the GoB and partner NGOs
• Preparing and maintaining reporting schedules for project components and assisting Principal Advisors in meeting reporting deadlines
• Assisting the Principal Advisors in preparing reports for GTZ-HQs and BMZ
• Coordinating data required for reporting in coordination with programme and Administrative staff
• Overall coordination of administrative and financial issues of the programme, including oversight of contracts, financial management and availability of funds on a monthly basis and monitoring of expenditure
• Periodic review of processes and systems of administration within the programme and management of information flow between the programme and the GTZ office
• Managing, coordinating, supervising and contributing to the preparation and implementation of programme events, missions and tours within and out side the country and carrying out other activities necessary for the implementation of these.

General Duties:

• Is responsible for the management of personnel, finances, and infrastructure of the entrusted area of activity
• Is responsible for ensuring a polite and successful interface with partner organizations and individuals
• Is familiar with donor-specific planning, implementation and reporting procedures and its changes
• Represents the interests and always acts on behalf of the GTZ-program
• Provides support in organisational and management issues
• Routinely consults with updates Principal Advisers regarding all kinds of administrative and reporting issues

Additional Duties/Tasks

• Assists in and/or carries out other project activities and any other tasks as assigned
• Resolves areas of dispute and troubleshoots contentious issues
• Take a leading role in assisting and managing administrative staff.

Instructions to Apply:

Only electronic applications will be accepted. Please send your complete and current CV along with a recent passport size photograph, a letter of explaining why you are suitable for this job (1 Page) before the 20th of June 2009 to GTZ. If you have an email client installed, just click Email, otherwise please send your application via email to jobs@gtz-bd.de with the subject line “Programme Support Manager, GTZ- Gender, Rights and Governance Programme”. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Women with disabilities in Bangladesh marching forward
Women with disabilities (WWD) have been marching forward with capabilities and commendable role in different arenas of development in Bangladesh. They are gaining prominence day by day and lighting the way forward.

Ranjana selected as International Bridge Builder of Harvard University
Umme Kulsum Ranjana, has been prestigiously selected as one among ten International Bridge Builders of Harvard University for her contribution in organizing women with disabilities’ rights movement in Bangladesh. Ranjana is a woman with physical disability and the President of Protibondhi Narider Jatio Parishad (National Council of Disabled Women-NCDW) a nation-wide network of organizations working with the women with disabilities in Bangladesh. Now Ranjona is participating in the International Conference of Bridge Builders at Harvard University, USA to deliver her speech on Experiences of Mobilizing Women with Disabilities in Rural Bangladesh held on 6-10 April 2009. Ranjona is the first Bangladeshi woman who has been selected for this award.

This year’s Bridge Builders will come from a diverse array of countries. They bring with them a wealth of experience on critical issues such as social enterprise, rural development and women’s rights. The conference is a rare opportunity for those interested in policy to share the knowledge and practical perspectives of ten incredible individuals who are successfully creating better lives for their own communities.

The 2009 International Bridge Builders Conference invites innovative pioneers from around the world to share their successes in fostering positive social change within and beyond their communities. These leaders are the ‘Bridge Builders’: rare individuals who cultivate solidarity between the multiple stakeholders involved in international development, grassroots movements, and social justice campaigns. This year, the 10 Bridge Builders exemplify commitment to public service and bring to Harvard a wealth of practical experience on many critical issues.

Nine other Bridge Builders are Gildo Cuamba from Mozambique, Veronique Kittirath from Laos, Robeto Killmeate from Argentina, Frederick Ouko Alucheli from Kenya (person with physical disability), Jacquelyn Akello from Uganda, Harman Kaur Sharda from India, Mitslal Haile-Selassie from Ethiopia, Fernando Figueroa Solano from Bolivia and Magda de Castro from Costa Rica.

For further information please visit at
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/kssgorg/bridgebuilders/Site/the_bridge_builders.html


Masuma’s 13th Solo Painting Exhibition is going on

13th Solo Painting Exhibition ‘My Dream’ of Masuma Khan started at Gallery Zoom of Alliance Francaise de Dhaka on 3 April 2009 and will continue until 17 April 2009. Masuma Khan, a woman with severe physical disability, who has been recognized as a renowned painter in Bangladesh. She started painting at her very childhood at the age of three. Previously she was awarded President’s Medal as a talented child artist; Jaycees Prize; Anonna Award as the recognition of one among ten best women personalities in Bangladesh. Masuma got her graduation degree from the Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka.
Masuma Khan’s 13th Solo Exhibition includes 18 paintings. She obviously loves to experiment with form in many of the works presented at the exhibition. She tried for a blending of the abstract with the reality which made her paintings interesting. Love as human emotion pervades all her paintings. The artist deals with the subject with her own style. The other aspect of her paintings is the hope that she always gives out.

At present she teaches painting including students with disability/special needs at South Breeze School, Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
Contact of Masuma Khan: 7114638, 01711678483

Spondon Get-together and PWDs' Excursion held

`Spondon Friends’ Circle’ organized a get-together and excursion on 27 March 2009 at the Pine Forest of National Botanical Garden, Dhaka Bangladesh. People with disabilities from diverse background and types enthusiastically participated in this auspicious event. People with disabilities gathered in this event to learn each other, make individual friends & fellows to share their knowledge and experiences to find their common matters where they can help each other to address their own challenges.
“Spondon Friends’ Circle” is an effort of AWDP-Bangladesh to create an avenue for free sharing of information, experiences, views and opinion on the issues of their own and to strengthen their relation and friendship among all categories of PWDs at very individual level.

During this get together a festive environment was created at Pine Forest where people with disabilities enjoyed full freedom of their choice for sharing and performing things whatever they liked to (talking, chatting, singing and other performance). Participants celebrated birthdays of ten PWD friends and marriage anniversaries of three PWD members of the Friends’ Circle. It was a very exceptional and emotional event that ever-held among people with disabilities in Bangladesh. They also celebrated marriage of a couple with blindness Jolly and Shohel who have been newly married. They participated in ‘Spondon Friends’ Circle get-together for the first time. They mentioned that it was an amazing experience for them to feel the warmth of friendship from Spondon Friends.

Participants felicitated Jannatul Ferdous Ivy for her excellent literary works and two publications during the Ekushe Book Fair in February, one of which was bi-lingual. (her blogsite is http://jannativy.blogspot.com). It’s a great blessing of almighty Allah that Ivy could save her life just before a couple of days when she was attacked and badly injured by a group of miscreants. She attended the event though she wasn't fully cured. Participants wished her early recovery. PWD Freinds also felicitated Antora Ahmed for her big achievement, promotion to the post of AVP of AB Bank Foreign Remittance Department. She is the first PWD who could reach up to this level in the Banking sector in Bangladesh. (her blogsite is http://antorabd.blogspot.com)

There was no preset agenda for this get-together. But the participants shared on many issues. Prevailing scenario of opportunities of participation in the socio-cultural and recreational activities of all categories of PWDs, accessibility issues, challenges/barriers of getting married/having conjugal lives by PWDs, real understanding of the category specific difficulties and limitations of PWDs, advantage and limitations of group affiliation of people with same types of disabilities and others.

The venue Pine Forest was a very beautiful, green and natural place of the Botanical Garden where PWDs of all categories got their access to most places. Getting such a favorable environment people with disabilities started talking and chatting from the beginning to the end. Young participants didn’t forget to get aloof at downstairs of lotus pond or behind the bushes in pair. They expressed their feelings by saying that they dreamt for participating in such an event for long and `Spondon Friends’ Circle’ brought their dreams in to reality. 54 participants attended this get-together. The next get-together is expected to be held at an accessible historic place of the country.