Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of
Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around
the globe in honoring International Day of People with
Disabilities.
NEW
ROCHELLE, N.Y., Dec. 3, 2022
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- INT'L DAY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:
Salesian Missions highlights social and educational programs that
promote inclusion
Almost 1 billion people living with a disability, according to
the World Health Organization.
Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of
Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around
the globe in honoring International Day of People with
Disabilities. Since its inception in 1945, the United Nations has
outlined and reiterated its commitment to calling for the creation
of inclusive, accessible, and sustainable societies and
communities.
In 1981, the U.N. proclaimed Dec.
3 as a recognized day for the celebration of the
achievements of people living with disabilities across the
world.
Almost 1 billion people, or 15 percent of the world's
population, are living with a disability, according to the World
Health Organization (WHO) World Report on Disability. Nearly 250
million are living with a mental or neurological condition, and
almost two-thirds of these people will not seek professional
medical help, largely due to stigma, discrimination, and
neglect.
This year's theme "Transformative solutions for inclusive
development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and
equitable world" focuses on innovation for inclusive development in
the areas of employment, reducing inequality, and sport as a
practice example.
"Children living in poverty with a disability are even less
likely to attend school and have the same opportunities as their
peers," said Father Gus Baek,
director of Salesian Missions. "Salesian programs around the globe
facilitate social and educational projects that pave the way for
advanced research, learning and innovation that aid the inclusion
of people with disabilities."
Salesian Missions is proud to highlight Salesian programs that
advance inclusivity for people with disabilities on International
Day of People with Disabilities 2022.
EL SALVADOR
Don Bosco University in San
Salvador, El Salvador, is
empowering the next generation of medical rehabilitation
practitioners to transform the lives of people with mobile
disabilities through its "Walking Anew!" project. This project was
made possible thanks to a grant from the U.S. Agency for
International Development's American Schools and Hospitals Abroad
(USAID/ASHA) program secured by Salesian Missions.
The project expanded and upgraded the facilities at Don Bosco
University's School of Rehabilitation Science and the equipment
used to train medical rehabilitation professionals. Completed in
June 2022, it is revolutionizing the
field of rehabilitation science across Latin America with a new laboratory and
research annex, modern technology, and extending the reach of Don
Bosco University School of Rehabilitation Science through an
expanded distance learning program.
The construction of the new building, which houses the Applied
Research Center, allows for the exchange of information with
professionals in the field at an international level as well as
provides space for a new podiatry laboratory and other specialized
practices.
The program has already trained people from El Salvador, other countries in Central America, South America, Haiti, Angola
and the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. In 2022, the project was also able to train students
in Uganda through the distance
learning program.
INDIA
Don Bosco Job Placement Network in India, through collaboration with Bangalore
Rural Education and Development Society (BREADS), organized a job
fair for employment seekers with disabilities. Working with
Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, Don Bosco Job Placement Network
held the job fair at Bell Hotel Majestic for more than 100
candidates with varying levels of ability.
At the job fair, Quess Corp. Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore recruited candidates for jobs in
warehousing, business process outsourcing and e-commerce, and
logistics (packing and billing). The Don Bosco Job Placement
Network coordinator and the Quess team assisted the candidates in
career counseling and by explaining the job roles. Of nearly 40
candidates who applied for the various jobs, 12 received immediate
offers and others were shortlisted for future placement.
The Don Bosco Job Placement Network aims to improve employment
opportunities for underserved job seekers through career guidance
and skills training. The organization also enables access to secure
job markets through job referral services, ensuring retention, and
improving quality job opportunities with adequate wages and decent,
safe, and secure working conditions.
MEXICO
People living with spinal cord injuries will have a new treatment
center thanks to funding Salesian Missions received from USAID's
ASHA program for the "Raising Standards of Care for Spinal Cord
Injury Patients" project. The project will construct and equip
Mexico's first comprehensive
treatment and rehabilitation center to assist patients who have
been paralyzed by spinal cord injuries, with a special focus on
youth.
The project runs from October 2018
through the end of September 2023.
Construction is currently underway. The Latin American Center for
the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries, which will be built in
Guadalajara, will be the only
center in Mexico dedicated to
serving the target population.
The treatment center aims to promote the American values of equal
access and opportunity by empowering young people with spinal cord
injuries with the physical independence and renewed self-esteem
needed to actively participate in society.
The state-of-the-art treatment and rehabilitation center will be
equipped with cutting-edge technology and innovative resources. In
addition to treating patients, the center will also generate and
disseminate new science and technology. Within its first four
years, it is anticipated that the center will treat 500 patients
with spinal cord injuries, mainly youth and young adults between
the ages of 12-35 who live in poverty and in a state of high
vulnerability.
SPAIN
Cadiz Virgili Don Bosco, a five-a-side soccer club founded at the
Don Bosco Institute in Cadiz, Spain, expanded its sports-educational
offerings with a team dedicated to people with disabilities known
as the Eyser team. The team launched in 2021. Training for team
members takes place free of charge on Mondays and Wednesdays at the
Don Bosco Institute.
The team's name honors George
Eyser, the first Olympic athlete with a disability, who won
six medals as a gymnast. The Eyser team was an initiative of the
Don Bosco team's coaches, Teresa
Atero and Néstor Villegas,
and has received the support of the Don Bosco Polideportivo Club
and of the five-a-side soccer team Cadiz Virgili Futsal.
Cadiz Virgili Don Bosco currently has several teams engaged in
tournaments and training. The teams are run by qualified and
certified coaches who, with the support of the Salesian community,
promote the individual care and development of athletes.
Salesian Father Rafael Cazorla,
coordinator of the Salesian sports club, added, "We want to achieve
greater integration in sport. It is very important to work in this
direction and that is why we want this team to continue to grow and
be able to compete in tournaments in the near future."
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About Salesian Missions USA
Salesian Missions is headquartered in New
Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Network—a
worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the
U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for
international programs that serve youth and families in poor
communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up
of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeople—all
dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more
than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient
by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date,
more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian
Missions. These services and programs are provided to children
regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to
SalesianMissions.org.
Contact:
Hannah Gregory
media@salesianmissions.org
914-960-4642 (text messages OK)
Twitter: @MissionNewswire
Newswire: MissionNewswire.org
Press room: SalesianMissions.org/press
Media Contact
Laura Perillo, SHOESTRING,
9084063413, laura@shoestring.org
Twitter
SOURCE Salesian Missions