According to statistics, there are more than 37,000 people with disabilities (PwDs) in Quang Tri Province, representing 6.2% of the population. In Gio Linh District, there are nearly 6,900 PwDs (equivalent 8.3% of the district population). Whereas the conditions to support the PwDs in livelihoods, health, and community activity in this area are limited.
In recent years, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) has implemented 04 projects in the central provinces to support the PwDs, and focused on integrating disabilities issues in other project activities in the communities. SRD, in collaboration with the People's Committee of Gio Linh District, is implementing the project "Empowering People with Disabilities", funded by Caritas Australia and DFAT. The project goal is that people with disabilities in 5 communes of Gio Linh district are able to achieve life improvements through active participation and greater empowerment in the community.

Participants of the training course

The training course in Photovoice and team management skills was held in Dong Ha City, Quang Tri Province from January 15^th to 16^th 2016, to improve communication skills via photo taking for 18 members of the PwDs clubs’ management board in 5 communes and Quang Tri DPO. The participants were introduced to digital camera-use techniques, and practiced shooting a diverse range of topics, as well as telling a story through pictures. Team management skills were practiced by role-playing, games, and individual story tellers through which everyone could share and gain experience in chairing a meeting, strengthening friendship among the members, finding solutions for emerging team conflicts, and how to accept the differences of others.

The trainees were equipped with photo taking techniques and team management skills

After the training, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hao – head of the Gio My PwDs Club - shared: “This is an extremely useful and realistic activity. I hope the project will organize additional classes on writing case stories and presentation skills to combine with this course with an aim to create more effective IEC products.”

-SRD-