Deadline- October 31, 2012
Countries/Region- All Countries
The Women’s Refugee Commission is pleased to invite Nominations for Voices of Courage Awards 2013: Refugees and Displaced Persons with Disabilities. Individuals who are developing or leading programs that benefit and include refugee, internally displaced, asylum-seeking, returnee or resettled people with disabilities will be honored.
People living with disabilities are among the most vulnerable and socially excluded of all displaced people. Often, refugees with disabilities are more isolated following their displacement than when they were in their home communities.
The Women’s Refugee Commission is working to advance the rights and dignity of refugees and displaced persons with disabilities through research, advocacy and training initiatives that develop the capacity of humanitarian agencies to ensure non-discrimination and of persons with disabilities to lead full lives and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Some examples of projects honorees might be undertaking-
- Developing and supporting refugees and displaced persons with disabilities to form representative organizations or groups in refugee and displaced communities.
- Working with communities to protect persons with disabilities from violence in humanitarian settings.
- Supporting the inclusion of children with disabilities in child protection programs in refugee and displaced contexts, including child friendly spaces, mentorship and peer support.
- Providing sexual and reproductive health education to young persons with disabilities who are refugees.
- Bridging the gap between disabled and non-disabled youth in refugee settings.
- Ensuring access to information and services through innovative approaches, outreach and awareness raising.
Award-
Two individuals will be selected to receive the Voices of Courage Award. The two 2013 Voices of Courage honorees will each nominate an organization to receive a $5,000 grant from the Women’s Refugee Commission to further their critical work to benefit displaced people in their communities.
Eligibility & Criteria-
- Candidates may live in the United States or overseas.
- Candidates should be individuals who have developed or implemented successful programs that serve people with disabilities who are currently or were previously displaced by conflict or natural disasters, or who are seeking or have been granted asylum.
- Candidates should be passionate advocates for improving the lives and protecting the rights of refugees, internally displaced people or asylum-seekers with disabilities.
- Candidates must be able to travel to New York for a week in May (the luncheon is Thursday, May 2, 2013) to accept their award (all travel and housing expenses will be paid).
- Candidates must be willing to participate in media interviews.
- nominations that are written in English only be selected.
Before filling the nomination, please send-
- a letter of nomination that details the program and tells the story of the nominee
- the curriculum vitae, resume or biography of the nominee
- the names and email/phone/fax of three references. If applicant email their nomination, please include all the information in a single attachment or include it in the body of the email. Include the name of the nominee in the subject of the email. Please do not send any additional materials (photos, etc.) as they will not be considered.
For more information, visit this link
