January 11, 2011

Looking Back to Move Forward ¹

by admin • For Professionals, International Development & Disability • Tags: Colombia, FundaMental, inclusive international development, MIUSA alumni

Having completed the training phase of their USAID-funded MIUSA small grants project, FundaMental Colombia recently spent some time reflecting on their activities and achievements during 2010. The Disabled People’s Organization (DPO), led by and for people with psycho-social disabilities, has been engaging the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to expand disability inclusion in IOM development projects. Through the collaboration, people with psycho-social disabilities have been learning about human rights, leadership, and advocacy, while key IOM staff members have been trained on mental health, psycho-social disabilities, and human rights. These joint training sessions are forming the basis for an ongoing relationship between IOM and FundaMental, expanding the participation of people with psycho-social disabilities in IOM’s Colombian projects. As mentioned in an earlier MIUSA blog post, this partnership reflects IOM’s commitment to disability inclusion and demonstrates the mutual benefits of NGO-DPO collaborations.

Looking back on the year and their MIUSA small grant project to include people with psycho-social disabilities in IOM displacement and development projects, FundaMental commented:

It has been a challenging year. We had to learn to walk in so many worlds and universes, crossing borders…Talking about human rights, making visible what was not visible, offering reasons for life, growing, dreaming….

For FundaMental Colombia it was an honor to finish the training of leaders on psycho-social disability, supported by IOM, USAID, and MIUSA. We trained a group of people with psycho-social disabilities on human rights, the UN Convention (CRPD), leadership, and project writing. Our dream came true: a diverse and fantastic group of people are widening their life perspectives, changing paradigms, expanding life experiences, and developing strong friendship and professional relationships.

Thanks to all the people that believe in us, work with us, and support us from near and far.

FundaMental’s efforts to expand the inclusion of people with psycho-social disabilities in IOM projects are exciting, and MIUSA looks forward to continued successes in disability inclusive development efforts.

Graduates of the FundaMental Colombia leadership training with FundaMental Executive Director and MIUSA Exchange Program Alumnus, Salan Gomez (bottom right)