Photos: Christian Aid/Caroline Wood
'The emphasis is on explaining policy and demystifying processes so people can understand how trade, aid and debt impact on them.'

In a special report for Christian Aid Week, Marc Haxell looks at three projects that have been helped by Christian Aid partner SEND that have improved the lives of people living with disabilities, a cause of stigma in some communities

SEND - the Social Enterprise Development Foundation of West Africa - was established in 1998 to tackle poverty by enabling people to have more of a say over issues that affect them.

Working in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia, SEND seek to find ways to help people to take part in the political, economic and social transformation of their communities.

They look to reach those who have least control over their own lives because of discrimination and poverty and strive to help them to access information and decision makers so that they can get their voice heard.

All of SEND’s projects focus on debt, trade and aid. The emphasis is on explaining policy and demystifying processes so people can understand how trade, aid and debt impact on them.

Idrissu’s story

Idrissu is a key person for people with disabilities in Tamale. He is the only hearing person in Tamae in Ghana who can sign, having taught himself, and serves as an inspiration for many disabled people in the town because he has not let his own physical disability or the stigma around disability limit him.

He was chosen to be the representative for people with disabilities on SEND’s ‘Debt Monitoring Committee (DHMC)’.

This is the group of people that are brought together every month by SEND to learn about what the government is planning to do with debt relief money, how they plan to spend it, how to access it and how to monitor the projects to make sure the government delivers on their promises.

“Look at the work available for people with disabilities or the number of students at university who have a disability,” says Idrissu. “You don’t see disabled people. There aren’t any opportunities. We need to educate people about disability. We need to go to the radio stations, we need to ask people why do you hide disabled people away.

“It took a year for me to learn sign language. It was difficult. Now I work as a volunteer signing for the deaf. I am very careful about how I sign, I translate everything, even if people say something and then correct themselves; I translate all of it so the deaf people know exactly what is happening and can form their own opinions. It is best to let them understand everything.

“Sign language helps us to communicate and know whatever is happening and, as a result of that, it is making an impact and bringing development so I feel very happy and proud to be with the deaf and to be able to support them. I have really tried all my best.

Left out

“I realised that we people are all the same. It is not right that people are just left out of the system. I know that I can bring people in. That is why I wanted to learn sign language. I think with support I can really help other people and I’m thankful for the opportunities I have to bring changes. I think, because I have overcome the problems I face because of my own disability, I have to help others to overcome theirs.

“SEND told us that health care was now free. At the monthly meeting we explained to everyone that their health care was free – no-one knew. It is very important for disabled people to have free access to healthcare – often they cannot find work so cannot afford to go to the doctor or to hospital.

“We helped everyone to register, got them their passport photos, and got together the paperwork that they needed to go to the district office.

“For the deaf people, they were very late to register because they had not received the information – we organised for registration to happen at the resource centre and I invited a member of the National Health Service to come and explain to them what they were entitled to.”

Meri’s story

Meri Zakerie, pictured right, the head teacher of the primary local primary school, is a member of Savelugu Debt Monitoring Committee (DHMC) and used her position to lobby the District Assembly to build ramps in the school to ensure disabled access.

“In 2004 the first disabled girl ever came to my school. Her mother would carry her to school on her back. Another boy came in a wheelchair but he couldn’t easily get into the classrooms.

“At the DHMC we were told that the government had said that debt relief money would be spent on ensuring that there would be disabled access for people at schools and hospitals. I told my staff this and we went to the DA and asked them to build ramps for the children. Now all of the school blocks have ramps and we now have five children at our school who are disabled.

“Before we had this kind of training people couldn’t go to the DA and fight for their rights. Now they can go in groups, send a delegation, even people who live far away come to the DA.

Scared

“Because they didn’t know and they were scared. They didn’t know who to speak to – how to move from one person to another. Now, at the District Assembly, all the government is there you can ask for what you want. People didn’t know that they had to ask for their rights.

“Before the relief we were really suffering. The whole country was really suffering. It was a shame for Ghana – we were borrowing, the loan kept on piling and most people, our poor brothers and sisters, they didn’t know what was happening. It was a disgrace to our country. When the relief came most communities can now see HIPC funding.

“The benefit is, if you see this woman here (pointing to a woman outside), she couldn’t get three square meals a day but now women can access loans. They can use it for their businesses, take care of their children and pay their school fees. Debt relief means women can access loans, eat and feed their children. Our schools are now crowded.

“To me it has meant families are up on their toes. We have a proverb here; we say that when someone is watching your back you have to watch your front. People won’t look after you forever. Now those people who campaigned have started something for us. We can build ourselves up now and we can help our poor.”

Mariama’s story

Mariama is a princess, the daughter of the previous chief of Gushegu and one of his 70 children. She has used her position in society to work with disadvantaged women, helping them to establish support groups and small businesses.

She is a member of SEND’s DHMC and through training from SEND she has been able to help local women’s groups apply for debt relief funds so they can build up their businesses and establish bank accounts, giving them access to credit.

“I formed the women’s groups. One is made up from women whose children suffer because of disability. I formed that group because one of my children is also suffering from that illness (epilepsy) so I decided to invite women who are also suffering from that illness so we can see how we will help one another and we will relieve the burden of that sickness from the children.

“The second group is women with disabilities. Five years ago I had an accident and my left leg was almost amputated but, God being so wonderful, I came across a very good Doctor and he operated and then, even after a three month stay in the hospital, I came back to Gushegu on crutches.

“I saw people in the same shoe and I actually felt it and I thought I will also form a ‘women with disability’ group and we will help one another.

“I’m grateful to SEND foundation because the first assistance I had came from SEND. I attended a workshop and we learnt about women’s empowerment and they told me we could help the three women’s group with some money for training on the government’s poverty reduction strategy.

“Some years back we were in darkness. Because of our sick children we couldn’t even meet with people, but then they say I have brought light. People see us and say we are able to move freely.

Avenues

“As a DHMC member other avenues have been opened up for us. The first time went to visit the District Commissioner we had high hopes. The first time I went with some of the women to the District Assembly, in fact we had it very tough, we were about twenty women and by the time we got there we were about 9 or 10.

“The women were afraid and had run away. Now, it is different, these women will go alone but then, then they were afraid. They were thinking when we get there they won’t listen, because our children suffer from illnesses we feel we are despised in the community.

“We thought that when we went to the DC office we were exposing ourselves. Some of us are disabled and the District Assembly is full of able-bodied people and we think we will get there and feel somehow foolish.

“Now, within these women’s groups we are able to communicate freely, to access basic needs and rights. At this time, when we are working other women see how we are doing.

“Some women used to come to me and beg for alms, but after the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy training we have brought these women into the groups and now they are making some money.”

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