ALSO's First Provincial Branch Opened in Mazar-e Sharif!

Mazar-e Sharif is central city of a northern province of Afghanistan. With a population of more than 300,000, Mazar-e Sharif is the 4th largest city in Afghanistan. On 21 Dec 2009 ALSO opened its provincial office in Mazar-e- Sharif. By an Opening Ceremony was o...rganized to let the local authorities, disability stakeholders and persons with disabilities about ALSO’s objective and activities.

ALSO expanded its activities to Mazar-e Sharif to provide peer supports (psychosocial supports) to hundreds of persons with disabilities who have never received psychosocial supports and other economic empowerment services they need. Many of them became isolated from society and hidden in their homes. ALSO plan to expand its service provision to provide economic income generation services, physical accessibility and will develop a referral system with employment, education and vocational training service providers to promote inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities in Mazar-e Sharif.

Five person are recruited (1 coordinator, 1 Administrative/logistic Officer, 2 social workers, 1 security guard) to run the activities.

We are committed to improve and sustain ALSO’s activities in Mazar-e Sharif to promote the living situation of persons with disabilities! We need your support.

Look at some photographs from the opening ceremony of ALSO in Mazar-e Sharif.


ALSO's Staff in Mazar-e-Sharif, Dec 21 2009

Now Women with Disabilities are able to access to Women Park in Kabul!

Women, Park (Bagh-e Zanana). A park and market for women only. It was designed as a place where women could sell their own products and merchandise directly, which cannot be done in areas where men do business, because women in Afghanistan are not supposed to deal directly with men who are not relatives. This park was created as an outlet for these women to sell their goods with respect to their culture. The park is also a nice place for female travellers to enjoy the outdoors.

But women with disabilities using wheelchairs have not been able to access to this park due to physical barriers like steps, narrow walk paths...

Therefore, ALSO will construct ramps and adapt certain inaccessible areas of this park to give access to those women using wheelchair to be able to sell their own products and merchandise directly and enjoy walking in the park as other women do.
Look at some photos taken during the opening ceremony of the physical accessibility project, on November 25th.
Deputy Minister of Ministry of Women Affairs of Afghanistan speaks at the openning ceremoney of Physical Accessibility of ALSO in Women Park in Kabul. photo@ALSO-Kabul

Representatives from Embassy of Canada in Kabul and project manager of ALSO cut the ribbon and open access to a new constructed ramp in Women Park in Kabul. photo@ALSO-kabul

A young leader of Self Help Group of ALSO cut the ribbon to open access to a new constructed ramp in Women Park in Kabul. Photo@ALSO-Kabul

A LOVE POEM FROM THE U.S. CAMPAIGN TO THE ICBL

I just want to say
On this very important day
A few words of thanks
To the ICBL ranks

Sylvie for holding us together all
Nancy and Amelie always lining up a call
Olivia connected to her emergency wires
Annette, Serena, Patrick—putting out fires

Steve speaking eloquently on behalf of us all
Tamar with her policy brain always on the ball
Katie recording every single stutter
Kasia, our rally point, sadly cut off in mid-utter

We have memories and moments to carry us through
Like watching the Rumble make Thomas black and blue
And we can count on Jody to cut right thro’it
And properly call it when it’s really just bull$#%!

All caught on film thanks to Giovanni and Mette
And don’t forget our regional coordinators who couldn’t have been bette[r],
Mary and Fred for keeping us on in fo-cose [focus],
Our Colombian members who welcomed us gringos.

It’s been a tough road to lay
In the ol’ U. S. of A.
To get them to join
Like constantly flipping a coin

They’ve been mean in the past
And it just cannot last
But with your help here this week
We have managed to speak

So thanks for your aid
A real difference we’ve made
Now they’re one step closer to accession
Because with them we keep messin’

To the USCBL, thanks of course
To the ICBL/CMC staff—you are a true force
But also to the rest
I just think you’re the best

So to Firoz much gratitude
For his great attitude
And the group of survivors he led
Who beat the U.S. on the head

And to Jackie and Justin
And the youth who like bustin’
Myths of landmine utility
Spoken with true nobility

And I give much appreciation
To those who spoke to your delegation
Urged them to approach the U.S. and ask
And to take them to task

You pushed those delegates into a delirium
Richard, Portia, Judith, Maria, and Miriam
You helped increase all those voices
Much reducing the U.S.’s choices

And lest Ema I not forget
Who I better minister from Palau I’ve never met
The American she did not chagrin
But nodded politely and took it on the chin

That’s just to name a few
But thanks to all campaigners old and new
While overwhelmed I was at the start
Now I know we speak with one heart

I’m proud to be part of the team
Together we shine like one lighthouse beam
From Cartagena we’ll march across these lands
Mission possible is in our hands!

By: Zach Hudson of USCBL

FOR YOU!

if it wasn’t for you I would never be who I am
my only wish is just be devoted to you
your talks is the song I dream to hear
your smile is the joys of my bests
your steps is my life-courage
your fashion is with dignity
your talent is my proud
your courage is unique
your self-steam is our success
your smartness is my confidence
your hard work is our bright future
your honesty is our victory and honor
your commitment is our life-bless
your style is our shared shadow
your handmade is delicious
your care is our promotion
your beauty is matchless
your respect is mutual
your look is gorgeous
you are mine &
i am yours!