Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) under the patronage of Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are sensitizing for barrier free society for people with disabilities in order to enable them reach their needs of social and economic participation.
Kobayashi Hiroyuki, JICA resident representative told Igihe.com, “the workshop was to share knowledge and experience about barrier free activities because most of the Rwandans with disabilities cannot find it themselves and they could not recognize their difficulties as people with disabilities.
After getting lectures, they did practical workshop themselves and moved in different areas of the hotel to recognize it themselves and then tomorrow in their houses and everywhere they are going; they will experience it.”
JICA in Rwanda is involved I different sectors including; agriculture, water and sanitation, education, energy and transportation. The workshop was under the education sector.
Prof. Yoshihiko Kawauki, a JICA expert of barrier-free a wheelchair user is experience in raising awareness towards barrier-free society in many countries.
He told igihe.com, “about 40 years ago I broke my leg and I had to use a wheelchair up to now. After today’s session I realized that physical environment in Rwanda is far behind and its very necessary for the society to change their mind set and recognize people with disabilities in whatever they do like during construction process, they should put in mind that even people with disabilities will use the same building.” “We have been also lecturing them on how to overcome such challenges,” he added.
Zinda Victor, Vice Chair of people with disabilities in Niboye sector, Kicukiro district and a student at KIE has a family of three children and a wife. He attended the workshop to give a presentation.
Zinda pointed out that, “I started a cleaning company and will also be dealing with furniture workshop. Sometimes we get challenges and find with no people to push us while on our wheelchairs, or even claim for money and sometimes getting into the toilets is also a problem.”
He added, “The major problem is entering into the staled buildings, and also roads in our residential areas are not well formulated for our wheelchairs.”
He also said that the message received from the workshop will help them to advocate and also to transform their lives.
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