A grant of 3 million rupees will be given to five local organizations of Sri Lanka, by The United States Agency for International Development (USAID). These organizations have been trying to help the disabled in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka, which have witnessed severe conflict in the recent past.
The five organizations that would be getting the grant, have been doing significant work to help the large population of disabled people, who were a victim of the conflict that lasted many years. According to a press statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, these organizations will use the money to provide occupation to 1,200 disabled people and make the public aware of the rights of the disabled.
Deaf Link, Puhalidam, Multi-Disciplinary Team, Organization for Rehabilitation of the Handicapped in Vavuniya District, and Association for Rehabilitation of Differently Abled Persons are the five organizations that are located in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts of Sri Lanka. With the help of the grant, these organizations will be able to continue helping the disabled.
USAID and its implementing partner ZOA Refugee Care Netherlands will use the grant to help the local organizations to formulate projects for generation of small-scale income for the disabled people, in the conflict-affected areas. Thereby, these organizations will help the handicapped people develop business-plans, and they will also grant start-up capital to the best plans. Moreover, with the help of the grant money, the organizations will also aim to link the disabled people to other developmental activities conducted in their areas.
James Bednar, USAID Mission Director to Sri Lanka, said, “This new grant will build on USAID’s current and past work to strengthen Sri Lankan organizations working with the disabled. These organizations know the local communities and provide critical services to ensure that the disabled are better able to support themselves, advocate for their rights, and ultimately, lead happier and more fulfilled lives.”
In Sri Lanka, USAID has been involved in multiple activities to improve the life of the disabled; some of these activities include production and donation of wheelchairs, providing vocational training, helping the disabled with job referrals and providing them opportunities for self-employment.
According to the statement issued by the Embassy, in the past, USAID has been providing grants that have greatly improved the life of disabled people. These grants have been used to fit international-standard prosthetics and orthotics for individuals who needed them, donated customized mobility devices, helped create employment opportunities, promoted the rights of the disabled, and made people aware of the issues relating to the disabled, not only at a local, but also at national level.
