Members of disabled communities from Moldova, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan are able to work, communicate, and become more socially integrated as a result of IATP events. In Moldova, a former beneficiary of IATP training is utilizing her skills to assist the disabled.
- After completing an IATP workshop in January, Maria Mescina of Chisinau, Moldova began training disabled children and adults who are members of the NGO Motivatia (Motivation). Motivatia was created in 2007 to unite people with physical disabilities, help them protect their rights, and provide them with legal and educational support. After learning about Motivatia through her employment at the national printing house, Mescina joined the organization as a volunteer, conducting a seminar in computer skills for 15 physically impaired children and adults from January 28 to February 2. Mescina commented, "My heart is filled with pleasure when I see how much they can accomplish after this course.” She continued, “This is a chance for them to change their lives. It helps them to overcome their illness and make others regard them as healthy people.” By bringing knowledge of information technology to the disabled Mescina is contributing to their personal growth and self-esteem and to greater social integration of the disabled in Moldova.
- Galina Ponomaryova, a blind journalist from Donetsk, Ukraine, is now more efficient and faster in writing articles for regional newspapers after attending IATP courses for visually impaired people in January. Using an old typewriter, in the past Ponomaryova had serious problems with meeting submission deadlines. “I couldn’t even imagine that one day I will find needed information via Internet, using new information technologies,” remarked Ponomaryova.
- Ten disabled veterans of the Voluntary Society of Veterans of War in Afghanistan are using their newly acquired skills to build and serve their community in Almaty, Kazakhstan following a series of IATP computer and Internet courses from February 4 to 16. “Our improved IT skills help to fulfill our mission for disabled people. Now we can interact between each other using email,” commented Sergey Turumkulovich Mahashev, head of the association. He added, “Using Internet resources, we manage to coordinate our work better and find useful information for our activities.”
