Cairo, November 24, 2015

Grassroots Assistance

Japan Supports Community Based Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities

On Tuesday November 24th 2015, Mr. Takehiro Kagawa, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, and Mr. Andrea Zaki, General Director of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS), signed a grant assistance contract for supporting people with disabilities.

 
The grant of US$ 90,878 is extended by the Government of Japan with the aim of facilitating the integration of people with disabilities into the community through the provision of artificial limbs and paralysis devices as well as through the establishment of a database system that will help collection and analysis of data related to disabilities.

 
While the provision of paralysis devices tackles the issue of mobility and accessibility which is the primary challenge people with disabilities are facing, the project also facilitates collaborative efforts among all the stakeholders both at community and policy making levels. The integrated database system will collect data of people with disabilities and their needs in order to design and carry out intervention plans at a community level, as well as to advocate and advise government bodies for legislation and policy implementation by presenting statistical evidence.

 
At the ceremony, the Ambassador and Mr. Zaki shared a view on the importance of inclusive development and the spirit of “No one shall be left behind” by referring to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Ambassador stated that the success of this project lies in empowering and mobilising people with disabilities as active actors rather than aid recipients and expressed his trust in CEOSS that has been supporting people with disabilities through a right-based approach since 1960.
 
The Ambassador also stated that Japan, as a host country of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games 2020, promotes “Sports for All”. He expressed that the Paralympic is not just a place where successful athletes with disabilities compete, but rather a moment that the world celebrates the collective efforts of individuals and communities which have been supporting people with disabilities. He added that Japan commits itself to work with both governments and civil society world wide in order to promote equal opportunities in an inclusive manner for all the people to enjoy sporting.
 
This grant is extended under the Japanese Government’s Assistance Scheme for Grassroots and Human Security Projects, which gives support to non-profitable organizations and NGOs in fields such as health, social care, education, environment and vocational training. This scheme was launched in Egypt in 1994, and 155 projects have been implemented to date, totaling about US$ 7 million.