Holistic Development of Children with Disabilities

The WHO has identified over 1 billion disabled people of whom 93 million (almost one in ten) are children.
20% of these people live with great functional difficulties in their day-to-day lives and to be more precise
this constitutes for:
● 3.2% with blindness and visual impairment
● 6% with deafness and hearing loss
● 2.6% with intellectual disability (IQ below 75) and
● 1% that use the wheelchair on a daily basis
It is obvious how disability limits one's functioning and restricts natural processes of a human body but
with that it also brings along barriers to accessing health, education, transportation, information and work
services thereby impacting the quality of life. Studies reveal the following facts pertaining to how disability
impacts the lives of PWDs.
● 1 in 2 disabled person cannot afford treatment;
● they have a more fragile general health;
● it increases their dependency and limits participation in society and
● the poverty rate is higher for them
The issue requires providing means that identify impairments timely (a secondary prevention) thereby
reducing the impact of the impairment on the functional level of the individual and also in checking the
impairments from becoming a disabling condition.
Benin Republic, a country located in west Africa, has a population of
14millions  with 2,18,651 persons registered as disabled and recipients of state social assistance (2017)
that constitutes only 3 percent of total population residing in Benin. Data on disability in Benin being
very limited and fragmented displays the lack of concrete statistics and makes it impossible to discern the
real picture of the problems and the needs of disabled persons and their families.
On the basis of our previous work and studies conducted in the project site, it is evident that the need of
the hour is to promote community based rehabilitation along with strengthening the fundamentals of
inclusive education framework. There is a need to make the education system more accessible for the
children with disabilities and also enhance rehabilitation services for the children, so as to improve their
health and skills.

The project aims to improve the status of children with disabilities in Benin through timely
community engagement. The specific objectives of the project are:
 Objective 1. To develop systems for early identification and screening of children with disabilities in the rurales areas of Benin.
 Objective 2. To promote inclusive education by developing a conducive school environment for the children with disabilities in over 50 schools in the project site.
 Objective 3. To improve the lives of children with disabilities through a community based rehabilitation program

The project will benefit over 5000 children with
disabilities in the rurales Region of Benin. The project will locate in the city of Cotonou, which is the economic capital of the of Benin.

Objective 1. To develop systems for early identification and screening of children with disabilities
in the in all rurales areas of Benin.
1. Survey of the area to identify the children with disabilities: We shall undertake an in depth
study of the project site to identify the children with disabilities. We will gather the necessary
information from the government records and statistical department on disability. Once we have the
secondary information with us, we will undertake a primary survey of the project site to get exact
details on CWDs in the area.
We shall be using special survey tools, to identify the disability and also develop individual profiles
of the children with disabilities. We shall conduct the survey both at the household level to identify
the children with disability below the age of 4 years and in schools to identify the children who are
above the age of 4 years and are enrolled in schools. We shall categorise the collected data into
age, type of disability, severity, distance from the nearest school, illiterate/literate, literacy level of
parents, income of parents, support from government etc. The data will be compiled, analyzed and
disseminated to all the stakeholders in the form of a situation analysis report.Awareness of teachers and parents: We will also conduct a comprehensive awareness drive for teachers and parents for the early detection and prevention of disability amongst children. We shall be organising workshops and special help camps to shed light on the topic and make the masses aware of the types of disabilities and their symptoms so that they are identified as soon as possible at home by the parents and outside (schools etc.). Moreover, enlightening people to create an environment that is socially inclusive and empathetic towards people with special needs and readily available to lend a hand for help when required.

Objective 2. To promote inclusive education by developing a conducive school environment for
the children with disabilities.
To improve the overall growth of children, it is important for them to attend school. It has been often seen
that schools do not have a conducive environment and as a result many specially abled children
do not attend school. Towards improving the environment in schools and classes.

Objective 3. To improve the lives of children with disabilities through a community based
rehabilitation program.
Community Based Rehabilitation is a strategy that is implemented through the combined efforts of people
with disabilities, their families and communities, and relevant government and non-government health,
education, vocational, social and other services (WHO). To ensure that special children have improved
lives, we shall include all the community members to participate in the project and make the project a
success.

by reducing the impact of the impairment on the functional level of the individual and also in checking the
impairments from becoming a disabling condition.

This will be  the first project for children with desabilities in the whole country and Through this, the children might have a better understanding of the instructions put in front of them at a time and also through various multi tasking activities they can get a better insight of their potential. The child might show signs of disinterest and anger. He might get frustrated and have a tendency to harm the other kids. The social worker needs to be patient in handling such kind of situations

To develop systems for early identification and screening of children with disabilities
in the whole country.
 To promote inclusive education by developing a conducive school environment for the
children with disabilities in over 50 schools in the project site.
 To improve the lives of children with disabilities through a community based
rehabilitation program.

Objective 1. To develop
systems for early identification
and screening of children with
disabilities in Benin: (Process of early detection, prevention and

screening of CWDs established. Report published No and % of PWD % of disability prevalence Parents provide honest information about children with
disabilities.)

Activities
1. Survey of the area
2. Awareness of teachers and
parents
3. Disability Screening

2. To promote
inclusive education by
developing a conducive school
environment for the children
with disabilities in over 50
schools in the project site.

(CWD will have better access to the education system. CWD’s would be included in the mainstream education services. Care, Attention and Quality of Education for CWDs improved. No. of schools that participate in the project Percentage increase in CWDs enrollment School Authorities are willing to bring the change and actively participate in the project.

Activity

1.Mapping the existing
educational facility
2. Recommendations for
developing a conducive
environment for children
3. Training of teachers
4. Awareness of children

for this project, 

Parents will have to provide honest information about children with disabilities.

School Authorities are willing to bring the change and actively participate
in the project.

Willingness of communities to support the project and help the
CWDs. Political willingness

We shall be using special survey tools, to identify the disability and also develop individual profiles
of the children with disabilities. We shall conduct the survey both at the household level to identify
the children with disability below the age of 4 years and in schools to identify the children who are
above the age of 4 years and are enrolled in schools. We shall categorise the collected data into
age, type of disability, severity, distance from the nearest school, illiterate/literate, literacy level of
parents, income of parents, support from government etc. The data will be compiled, analyzed and
disseminated to all the stakeholders in the form of a situation analysis report

Equity means equally high access to opportunities and success for all individuals, regardless of any social or cultural factors. Our corganisation care about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that why 60% of our team are women.  We have been putting diversity, equity, and inclusion into greater focus over the last few years. Most of our teams foster better employee engagement and productivity and they allow for better problem-solving abilities as varying perspectives often approach business challenges in a new way.

NGO Pompiers Humanitaires 

is a non-profit organization created in Cotonou in the Republic of Benin, with registrated number N° 2017/2132/DEP-LIT/SG/SAG-ASSOC DU 23 OCT.2017 and has a Consultative status with Economic and social council at United Nations since 2021 ( ECOSOC). 

a solidarity NGO specializing in development aid, contributes to the reduction of vulnerabilities and to the increase of the resilience of populations in the face of risks and disasters.
And which aims to:

– Promote education and training for all, mainly in disadvantaged areas

– Strengthen and provide primary health care to the most disadvantaged populations, notably children, women and the elderly

– Build water well systems in rural areas

– fight against famine and malnutrition

– Fight against global warming

We are requesting  for full funding for this Project, however, since most of the project components build off of or enhance an existing structure, the pilot project extension and local partnerships, it is a financial imperative that our existing fundraising operations continue robustly for the project to be a success. 
Our other innovative fundraising strategies around events, annual fund will ensure the project to be ongoing after a period of 2 years. Our overall approach would be existing donor stewardship, increased targeted fundraising appeals for creating a supplementary fund stream.

Education and Health departments of the Government will be involved in the project right from the beginning of the project. Our organisation will receive grant from Benin government and others parteners for the project sustainability. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the village and school authorities for this purpose for coming 2 years, which can be renewed after this period.

We would also welcome services through volunteering initiatives, whenever and wherever possible (remedial classes), and would provide other opportunities (field trips, computer training) through partnerships with local partners, schools and companies.