[Opd-officemanagers] Pasifika Weekly E News - 5 September, 2025
Roselyn Babanisi
babanisir at gmail.com
Sat Sep 6 21:16:02 +12 2025
Dear Soloveni
This is update from Blind and visually Impaired people of Solomon Islands
(BVIPSI)
1. *Capacity Building for Educators:*
-
*Outcome:* 27 teachers have received specialized CRPD (Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities) training, increasing their knowledge
and skills in inclusive education practices.
-
*Achievement:* Teachers have demonstrated improved understanding of
disability rights and inclusive teaching strategies, evidenced by
post-training assessments.
2. *Data Collection for Evidence-Based Decision Making:*
-
*Outcome:* Data has been collected across ten primary and secondary
schools to assess the current status of disability inclusion and
accessibility.
-
*Achievement:* The data will contribute to a comprehensive report,
highlighting key barriers, gaps, and opportunities in implementing CRPD
guidelines within the schools. The analysis will be used to influence
policy recommendations.
3. *Collaboration with Government and Policy Stakeholders:*
-
*Outcome:* Consultation meetings have been held with relevant ministries
(e.g., Education, Social Welfare, Health, etc.) to discuss and align
national policies with CRPD principles.
-
*Achievement:* Stakeholders have committed to integrating CRPD
principles into the national education and disability policies. A formal
agreement or memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed to ensure
ongoing collaboration.
4. *Enhanced School Accessibility and Inclusion:*
-
*Outcome:* Schools have taken steps to improve physical and pedagogical
accessibility for students with disabilities based on training and data
findings.
-
*Achievement:* Some schools have already implemented immediate changes
(e.g., installation of ramps, accessible learning materials, differentiated
instruction strategies).
5. *Sustainability and Long-term Impact:*
-
*Outcome:* A follow-up action plan has been developed to ensure the
sustainability of CRPD implementation in schools, with periodic assessments
and updates.
-
*Achievement:* A monitoring and evaluation framework has been set up,
allowing for ongoing assessment of progress in inclusion initiatives.
6. *Increased Awareness and Advocacy:*
-
*Outcome:* Through training and consultation meetings, the awareness of
disability inclusion has been raised among educators, policymakers, and
local communities.
-
*Achievement:* Awareness campaigns or local advocacy events have been
organized, and educational materials on CRPD principles are now being
distributed to a wider audience.
7. *Strengthened Teacher Networks:*
-
*Outcome:* A community of practice for educators has been established to
share resources, experiences, and best practices in inclusive education.
-
*Achievement:* Regular meetings or online forums are being held where
teachers can support each other and share strategies for including students
with disabilities.
8. *Student-Centric Outcomes:*
-
*Outcome:* The project aims to improve the learning outcomes of students
with disabilities by promoting inclusive teaching practices.
-
*Achievement:* Preliminary student feedback suggests a positive impact
on their learning experience, with improvements in classroom participation,
social integration, and overall engagement.
9. *Integration of Technology in Teaching:*
-
*Outcome:* Teachers have been trained on using assistive technology
tools to support students with disabilities in the classroom.
-
*Achievement:* Several schools have begun to incorporate technology in
their teaching, and students with disabilities are benefiting from tailored
learning platforms.
10. *Policy Recommendations and Advocacy for Systemic Change:*
-
*Outcome:* Policy recommendations have been developed based on the
findings of the data collection and consultation meetings.
-
*Achievement:* These recommendations have been submitted to government
bodies, and efforts to advocate for systemic reforms to better implement
the CRPD in the education sector are underway.
11. *Improved Inter-ministerial Cooperation:*
-
*Outcome:* Strengthened collaboration between education, social welfare,
and health ministries to ensure a holistic approach to disability inclusion.
-
*Achievement:* An inter-ministerial task force has been formed to drive
the implementation of CRPD-related policies at the national level.
12. *Improved Parental and Community Engagement:*
-
*Outcome:* Parents and community leaders have been engaged in
discussions around disability inclusion, leading to better support for
students with disabilities.
-
*Achievement:* Community-based workshops and meetings have been
organized to promote understanding and advocacy for inclusive education at
the local level.
Kind regards
Roselyn Babanisi
Office Manger
BVIPSI
On Fri, Sep 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM Soloveni Vitoso <
Soloveni.Vitoso at pacificdisability.org> wrote:
>
> *Warm greetings from the Pacific Disability
>
> *
> September has just started, and with it comes its obligations and
> commitments for us all within the region. We need to be in ready to pitch
> in and work together as a team to ensure effective and robust outcomes.
> Also, it is a good time for reflections on what your organizations have
> done in the last 9 months and see what objectives you have covered and
> reflect on where you were strongest and where you were weakest, and how
> best you would move forward individually or as Team.
> From the PDF secretariat, we urge all our national organisation of persons
> with disabilities to continue to rise, as together through our strength in
> numbers, we will continue to advocate for and influence processes to ensure
> that no one is left behind.
>
> Below are 8 updates for this week.
>
> *MSP supports Inclusive Outreach Program in Vanuabalavu*
>
> In collaboration with the *Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation
> <https://www.facebook.com/DisFiji?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUz2KlI_iPxL8VdB0pevepF211pHZjCQXOjOXwF4s2osn6yuzQe2AMvoyoE2bMHPHTK6QXiC-fR-eeziqrYldETBK-JXA5dyZVFFcPsYZryX4tJyllqvDpyeYlvt7RjMyhR67eJTVx82TAv7pJONtp8qMqSaDTBjaRDv7TBjbEMj05EOvOcQ07c9Q1koDbBhdSF-FUW0KCvwH4jxRKVg6di964Tdpl6qasY801f3WCRgw&__tn__=-%5dK-y-R>*,
> MSP Suva outreach supported the outreach program in Vanuabalavu by
> conducting awareness sessions on Child Protection and Gender-Based
> Violence, alongside health screening as part of the Inclusivity Program for
> People Living with Disability (PLWD).
>
> The sessions engaged government stakeholders, community gatekeepers
> (Community Health Workers and Village Headmen) an PLWD representatives from
> each community.
>
> The team also carried out scoping and community profiling and assisted
> with the distribution of assistive devices from the Spinal Injury
> Association.
>
> In total, 156 participants accessed awareness, health screening, and
> related services through community hall programs and dorm visits conducted
> over the two-day outreach.
>
>
> *UN praises PNG’s human rights steps, urges greater inclusion for women*
> The Secretary General of the United Nations His Excellency Antonio
> Guterres has commended Papua New Guinea for its significant progress in
> peacebuilding and human rights. In his address at the parliament today, H.E
> Guterres issue a call to action to all members of parliament to ensure
> women are at the heart of the nation's development. Read More
> <https://www.nbc.com.pg/post/25964/un-praises-pngs-human-rights-steps-urges-greater-inclusion-for-women>
>
> *Disability is not inability” – Agriculture Minister praises physically*
> *challenged men*
> *Peniasi Dobui (in blue t-shirt) working at a construction site. –
> SUPPLIED*
> Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Vatimi Rayalu had heaped praise
> for a man who had lost both his legs in a workplace incident at the age of
> twenty-five and still earns a living today at the age of sixty. Read Mo
> <https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/disability-is-not-inability-agriculture-minister-praises-physically-challenged-men/>
>
> *Understanding Disability in Papua New Guinea*
> In Papua New Guinea, the complex socio-economic and political landscape
> significantly affects disability advocacy and action across all aspects of
> life. Disability spans physical, mental, and trauma-induced conditions, and
> may often be traced back to periods of conflict and violence. Disability
> inclusion in Papua New Guinea can be seen as taboo, and disability
> initiatives are typically poorly funded. Widespread disability compounds
> intergenerational disparity, constraining the country’s development even
> further. Read More
> <https://www.unsw.edu.au/news/2024/03/understanding-disability-in-papua-new-guinea>
>
> *Addressing Disability and Poverty in Fiji*
> Tucked away amidst approximately 330 tropical islands
> <https://myfiji.com/travel-guide/fiji-islands/> in the South Pacific
> Ocean, Fiji saw 929,740 visitors in 2023
> <https://www.statsfiji.gov.fj/latest-releases/tourism-and-migration/visitor-arrivals>,
> a 46.1% increase
> <https://www.investinfiji.today/news-publication/fiji-breaks-visitor-arrival-records/> from
> the previous year. Despite this surge, many residents’ lives have not
> improved. A significant portion of Fiji’s population lives below the
> national poverty line
> <https://borgenproject.org/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-poverty-in-fiji/>,
> facing considerable barriers due to disability and poverty. This highlights
> the urgent need for support to address the challenges faced by impoverished
> and disabled Fijians. Here is information about the correlation between
> disability and poverty in Fiji. Read More
> <https://borgenproject.org/disability-and-poverty-in-fiji/>
>
> *Disability and Poverty in Samoa: Faaolo Utumapu-Utailesolo*
> Growing up blind in Samoa
> <https://borgenproject.org/https-borgenproject-org-causes-and-effects-of-hunger-in-samoa/>,
> Faaolo Utumapu-Utailesolo felt first-hand not only how hard life is living
> in poverty, but how much harder it is for disabled persons living in
> poverty. With no access to Braille, teachers trained to support her in
> school, or necessary medical care and support, she struggled a lot until
> her family was able to find the money to support her financially. Now, with
> a bachelor’s and master’s degree, she lives as a university lecturer,
> working with her disability rights movement to help other people with
> disabilities gain a fulfilling education, to live a fulfilling life. Here
> is information about disability and poverty in Samoa and what
> Utumapu-Utailesolo has done to address it. Read More
> <https://borgenproject.org/disability-and-poverty-in-samoa/>
> * Making disability everyone’s business in Timor-Leste*
> Eleven-year-old Evan was born blind. For him to learn and fulfil his dream
> of becoming a teacher, he has had to leave his family and take shelter at
> run by an organisation for people with visual impairment in Dili,
> Timor-Leste, which is more than 100km from his family home. It is at this
> community run centre, where he is being taught basic adaptive skills such
> as how to use other senses to move around, and to use braille. Read More
> <https://www.unicef.org/timorleste/stories/making-disability-everyones-business-timor-leste>
>
> *A first of its kind database for persons with disability launched in
> Vanuatu*
> The Vanuatu database for People with Disability was officially launched
> and reaffirms the government's commitment to achieving sustainable
> development goals and ensuring no one is left behind. The Vanuatu database
> for People with Disability is the first of its kind in the Pacific region.
> The database will include the name, location, age, sex, and clinical
> diagnosis of a person with a disability, and this will be accessed by
> essential services/ministries as required or for routine follow-ups as well
> as during outbreaks and natural disasters. Read More
> <https://www.spc.int/updates/blog/dynamic-story/2024/03/a-first-of-its-kind-database-for-persons-with-disability>
> *Have Blessed Weekend!*
>
>
> Kind Regards,
> *Soloveni Vitoso | Interim Public Relations and Communications Officer*
> Pacific Disability Forum | Ground Floor, Kadavu House, Victoria Parade
> GPO Box 18458 Suva, Fiji
> Phone (landline): (+679) 7730200, 3312008, 3310469
> Phone (Mobile)(+679) 8990134
> Email: Soloveni.Vitoso at pacificdisability.org
> Website: www.pacificdisability.org
> *Organisation in special consultative status with the UN Economic and
> Social Commission since 2012.*
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