Independent Living Center: A window for integration and self-reliance for People with Disabilities
The Italian Educaid Foundation and Social Developmental Forum opened the Independent Living Center in the Gaza Strip as part of the ” I-CAN: Independence, Capability, Autonomy, Inclusion ” project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented in partnership with the Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Al-Amal Association for Rehabilitation.
The Center was opened on Wednesday April 24th with a wide participation of persons with disabilities, activists and representatives of civil society organizations, federations, international organizations as well as representatives of the Italian Educaid and Italian Development Cooperation in Palestine at an opening ceremony at the Center’s headquarters in West Gaza City.
The Center aims mainly to raise the level of autonomy and self-reliance of persons with disabilities in the Gaza Strip, in addition to enabling them to fully realize and enjoy their rights within the framework of international human rights principles.
The Center provides integrated services that support the independence, flexibility, social, educational and economic security of all people, especially persons with disabilities, through a multidisciplinary team, including social workers, occupational therapists, architects, peer counselors and educators.
The Center was launched this year as part of the development of work with the Forum, the Educaid Foundation and local partners in the disability sector. The Center is the culmination of a series of interventions implemented over the last five years.
Yousef Hamdouna, Director of Educaid Gaza Office, said during his opening speech that “the current staff of the center includes a large number of people with disabilities who benefited from our previous projects. Today they lead the Independent Living Center. This is the success story we are most proud of.”
“Launching the Center is a significant shift for working with people with disabilities in the Gaza Strip. A package of services will be offered to people with disabilities with the support of their peers. This is a worthy experience for all organizations and representative bodies to promote the idea of joint action and support the idea of the Center and invest seriously in its continuity ” said Mahmoud Zant, Executive Director of the Social Developmental Forum
It is worth noting that Social Developmental Forum is working to implement a series of programs and projects to positively enhance the reality of people with disabilities in the Gaza Strip within an inclusive approach based on equality and human rights.