According to WHO-2011, an estimated 1 billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, have a disability ; 10% of an affected population [by disaster] will develop serious psychological trauma. 80% of people with disabilities live in developing countries, and there, make up 20% of the poorest of the poor, living on less than $1 a day.
Disability is just as much or more about how society puts up barriers that exclude and disadvantage people with impairments by not recognizing their rights, needs and potentials, prejudice towards persons with disabilities. These barriers include poverty, lack of education, gender, religion, age, social stigma and geographic isolation.
The changes need to be brought from the policy level that would make every public institutions accessible to the people living with disabilities, develop education materials for the people with disabilities and make it accessible to them, make provisions for their independent living in the community as well as support need to be provided by other funding bodies as well the government entity for responding to emergencies and natural disasters and for disaster preparedness for everyone including the people living with disabilities to control the risk. Also, a social culture should develop that accept every individual in the society equally without discriminating in any of the ways.
For disabled children, every day is a struggle. The multitude of barriers limiting their access to education and the weight of what other say about their condition are obstacles to their well-being and fulfillment. No matter what physical or mental condition the children are living with, they all are entitled to an environment that will promote their development – whether to go to school to learn about cultural activities or to have fun. Health care interventions, education, rehabilitation and sustainable livelihood development are the aspects to be taken care of.
There are hundreds of foundations that support the persons living with disability. If you are an organization or individual working towards the better life of people living with disability, explore about the following 20 foundations supporting the organizations that care for different aspects of PLWDs and submit application to the relevant one:
Abilis Foundation
Established in 1998, Abilis Foundation answers the needs of persons living with disability anywhere in the world. The foundation provides small grants ranging from EUR500 to EUR10,000 to the projects initiated by people living with disability. The grant applicant must be in an organization where s/he plays vital role in project initiation, planning and implementation. The project must also benefit the people living with disability. The Foundation also supports organizations run by parents of children with disabilities.
Projects that will be funded are those that promote equal opportunities, independent living, human rights, independent livelihood and Improve the position of women with disability.
The Abilis Foundation accepts grant applications any time round the year. The Foundation receives the bulk of its financing from the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Development Cooperation Fund. Interested eligible applicants are required to think carefully on the current priorities, make good plan on the project and apply. The application is processed and discussed at the board meeting. The board makes decision on providing the fund or not providing the fund to particular application. The applicant is then informed of the decision.
Areas of Interest
- Disability
- Human Rights
- Children
- Women and Gender
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicant must be from a country which the United Nations and the OECD have defined as qualifying for Official Development Assistance.
- Applicant organization must have a certificate of registration (if your group is not registered, contact Abilis Foundation as there can be exception to the rule).
- The persons with disability should play a vital role in the planning and implementation of the project, they should be its owners as well as beneficiaries.
Focus Regions – All countries that are defined as qualifying for Official Development Assistance by the United States and OECD.
Note: The organizations who successfully implement the project for a year fulfilling the work plans and meeting deadlines will have chances to be invited to submit application for another cycle of grant otherwise no organization is provided fund for more than a year and more than once.
For more details about this Foundation, including contact information, you can download the PDF version if you are a fundsforNGOs Premium Member. Not a Premium Member? Click here to learn the amazing benefits of fundsforNGOs Premium Membership.
