THE ROLE OF NGO ON CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY

30 MINUTES RADIO INTERVIEW ON THE ROLE OF NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO) ON CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

[CASE STUDY OF ALL CHILDREN CHARITY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION, BARNAWA, KADUNA]

ABSTRACT

In Nigeria just like any other countries in the world, the concerns of people with disabilities is often secondary, therefore they are often marginalize. This term paper however discusses the role of non governmental organization on children with special needs with a case study of All Children Charity International foundation (ACCIF), Barnawa, Kaduna. The foundation is a non-governmental organization and civil organization founded by Bar. (Mrs.) Bosede Oluranti Daudu with the aim of meeting the needs of specially challenged persons. A 30minutes programme is presented, including musical interludes and interview with Bar. (Mrs.) Ranti Daudu; conclusions is drawn and recommendation to create more awareness to the public on the role of non-governmental organization which will bring about change in attitudes of the public towards persons with special needs.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        i

Approval page        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        ii

Declaration   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iii

Dedication    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        iv

Acknowledgement   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        v

Abstract       -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        vi

Table of Content     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        vii

Introduction  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        1

Definition of NGO    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        1

History of non-governmental organization (NGO)                 -        -        -        3

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Nigeria      -        -        -        -        4

What is Disability    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        5

Who is a Disabled Person   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        7

Statement of the Purpose  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        9

Reason for choosing Radio as a medium of communication    -        -        -        9

Target Audience      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        10

Review of Related Topic    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        10

Review of Related Programme     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        12

Script [Station slug] -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        15

Conclusion    -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        18

Recommendations   -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        19

References              -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        21

Appendix      -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        23

Introduction

In Nigeria, just like any other countries in the world, the concern of people with disabilities is often secondary, therefore they are often marginalized. According to UNESCO Research (1993) more than 90% of children with disabilities in Nigeria do not attend schools.

In 1993, the Nigeria government enacted the first and only piece of legislation on people with disability. The only “Nigerian with Disability Decree” was enacted to provide clear and comprehensive legal protection and security for Nigerians with disability, as well as establishment of privileges, guaranteed unclear this decree and other laws application to the disabled in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Despite the passing of the Decree, the situation of those with disabilities in Nigeria remains desperate, none of the programs set out in the decree have been implemented to any substantial degree. The live chances of disabled children are further impaired by a pervasive negative attitude towards those with disabilities parent of disabled children are often ashamed of exposing their children to the wider community. In addition to this, parents often see their child’s disability as means to earn money through begging and are therefore reluctant to relinquish this source of income (UNESCO Research, 1993). 

Definition of NGO

A non Governmental Organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens group which is organized on a local, national or international level. It is a task oriented and driven by people with a common interest. NGOS perform a variety of services and humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to government, advocation and monitor policies and encourage political participation through provision of information. It is a legally constructed organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any form of government. (www.wikipedia.org).

Non governmental organization includes many group and institutions that are entirely or largely independent of governments and that have primarily humanitarian or cooperative rather than commercial objectives. They are private agencies in industrial countries that support International development, indigenous groups organized regionally or nationally and member groups in villages. NGOs include charitable and religious associations that mobilize private funds for development, distribute food and family planning services and promote community organization. They also include independent cooperation, community association, water-user societies, women groups and pastoral association. Citizen groups that raise awareness and influence policy are also NGOs (World Bank Organization, 2009).

Therefore, a non governmental organization refers to an organization that is not based on government and not created to make profit. It is a non-profit making voluntary service oriented/developmental organization either for the benefit of members (a grass root organization) or for other members of the population.

History of Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)

The term NGO came into popular usage at the end of the Second World War The United Nation sought to differentiate between inter-governmental specialized agencies and private organizations.

The first International NGO was the “Anti-slavery Society” (1839), other early NGO that grew out of wars including the “Red Cross” in the 1850s, “Save the Children” after World War I and “Oxfam and Care” after World War II. Some well-known NGOs include “Medicines Sans Frontiers” (Medicine without border), “Amnesty International” and “World vision”. The “Bill and Melinda Foundation” is now the world biggest NGO, with an endowment of £28.8 billion. Bryant, (1993).

Today, some NGOs prefer the term “Private voluntary Organization” (PDO), Civil Society Organization (CDO), Community Based Organization (CBO) or Environment and Development Organization (EDO). According to P.J. Simmons (1995) the ultimate goals of non-governmental organizations are to “improve understanding, influence agendas, influence policies, implement policies, and to solve government inadequate actions. And they do so through advocacy, information gathering and analysis information dissemination, generation of ideas and recommendations monitoring and watch dog role, service delivery, mediation and facilitation and financing and grant making. NGOs operate at the community level and also at the National regional, sub-national and international levels, Simmon, (1995).

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Nigeria

Non Governmental Organization (NGO) has been active in Nigeria since in the 1930s but was mostly limited to social clubs and organizations established by the various missionary institutions operating in the country. Although, they were not officially classified as NGO, the Nationalist Movements were the precursors of temporary Civil Society Organization (CSOs) in Nigeria.

The idea of a formalized collaboration between the Federal Government of Nigeria and NGOs was first muted at a meeting organized by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) for NGOs active in the health sector in 1987. Between 1990 and 1991 the FMOH held consultative meetings to mobilize NGOs to support the federal Government in the expanded program on immunization (EPI), Drug abuse and subsequently in HIV/AIDS campaign, thus widening the spectrum of civil society Organization (CSO) collaborating with the Federal Government Bryant, (1993).

In 1992, with the collaboration of the  Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), United State Agency for International Development (USAID), Society for family Health (SFH) and World Health Organization. The British high commissison, Ford Foundation, United Nation International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), World Bank, United State Information Services, British Council, Department for International Development(DFID), United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nation International Group (UNIG). The Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Goethe Institute, the Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO) was established by 60 NGOs. It is the fastest growing coordinating body for recognized NGOs/CBOs/PVOs involve in development activities in Nigeria. Bryant, (1993).

What is Disability

A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, development or some combination of these; it may be present from birth or occur during a person’s life. Disabilities are an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitation, and participation restrictions. World Health Organization (2012).

Disability is defined as the limitation in the ability to provide an occupation because of physical or mental impairment; it is also the lack of legal qualification to do something. Mojisola, (1997).

Disability can be said as the physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses and ability to do things by him/herself, it can be grouped into three:

(i)          Temporary

(ii)         Permanent

(iii)        Intermittent

Temporary disability: it is a type of curable impairment of mental or physical faculties that may impede the affected person from functioning normally only so far as he or she is under treatment.

Permanent disability: it is the type of impairment of mental or physical faculties that may last for an indeterminable period, thus indefinitely preventing the affected person from functioning normally.

Intermittent disability: it is the type of impairment of mental or physical faculties that occur at irregular intervals and prevent the affected person from functioning normally.

Disability is caused by impairment to various sub-systems of the body, these includes:

Physical Disability

It is an impairment that limits the physical function of the limbs of gross motor ability

(i)          Sensory system: it is an impairment of the senses; it is usually referred to as the vision and hearing impairment.

(ii)         Visual impairment: it is the vision loss of a person to such a degree as to qualify as an additional support needed through a significant limitation of visual capacity. It result from either disease, congenital or degeneration conditions that cannot be connected by conventional means.

(iii)        Hearing impairment: it refers to conditions in which individuals are fully or partially unable to detect or perceive at least some frequencies of sound which can typically be heard by most people.

(iv)       Somatosensory disorder: it is the insensitivity to stimuli such as touch, heat; cold and pain are often an adjunct to a more general physical impairment involving neural path ways.

(v)         Balance disorder: it is the disturbance that causes an individual to feel unsteady; it may be accompanied by symptoms of being giddy, woozy, or have a sensation of movement, spinning or floating.

Intellectual Disability

It is a broad concept that ranges from mental retardation to cognitive deficits to mild or too specific to qualify as mental retardation.

(i)          Mental disorder: A mental disorder is a psychological or behavior pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual and perceived by the majority of society as being outside of normal development or cultural expectations.

(ii)         Developmental disability: It is any disability that results in problems with growth and development.

(iii)        Invisible disability:  It includes several chronic disorders, such as diabetes, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease or epilepsy would be counted as non-visible disabilities, as opposed to disabilities which are clearly visible, such as those requiring the use of a wheelchair, Mojisola, (1997).

Who is a Disabled Person

An individual may be qualify as disabled if he/she had an impairment in the past or is seen as disabled based on a personal or group standard, or such impairment includes physical, sensory and cognitive or developmental disabilities. Some advocates object to describing certain conditions as disabilities arguing that it is more appropriate to consider them “developmental differences that have been unfairly stigmatized by society” www.wikipedia.org, (2012).

Hence, disabled person can be classified as any person who is unable to obtain for him/her self, fully or partially, the normal requirements of an individual and/or is unable to participate fully in the community due to short comings either physically or mentally and whether it occurred since birth or later in life.

The 3^rd of December is declared as the National day for the disabled person. Rehabilitation services are provided to help the disabled be independent and subsequently enabling them to reach the maximum potential in all aspects of their lives suitable with their abilities www.wikipedia.org, (2012).

If a person sees his handicap as an absolute reality, it means he cannot do anything to it and must learn to live by it and groan under its heavy load but if he is educated against the physical limitations and forges his ways ahead of life, even if the physical problem is not reversed towards healing, he does not have to despair over it. He masters the situation and overcome self pity and apathy Mojisola, (1997).

Evidence abound in the past and in this our present age about people of noble deeds who had lived or who are still living above human limitations by making the best of what problems they inevitably have to face in life. Ludwig Van Bethoven (1770 – 1882) could not hear but equally composed notes of high order. A one-time president of the United States of America (USA) Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882 – 1945) was confined to his wheelchair for years, yet he ran three terms consecutively in office Mojisola, (1997).

Statement of the Purpose

The concerns of people with disabilities are often secondary and therefore they are often marginalized in the society. The “Nigerian with Disability decree” was enacted to provide comprehensive legal protection and security but despite decree the situation of the disabilities in Nigeria remains desperate and none of the programmes were implemented, and this bring about the  creation of privately owned non governmental organization that perform humanitarian services to bring disabled people close to the government.

Reason for choosing Radio as a medium of communication

Scholars of the twentieth century have observed how radio programmes had succeeded in creating awareness, permeating everyday life in the modern world, changing social habits and creating new ones, upsetting social practices and providing an individual an ear and eye to the world outside.

Radio is a veritable tool of mass communication, it has developed a high reputation of having a favourable influence on its audience because it plays important role in the individual and societal lives, since it is faster and grassroot oriented.

Radio persuades and effectively influences large audience, thereby contributing substamally to the building of a national consensus; it is a powerful instrument in the area of public enlightenment and social development issues Onabanjo, (1999).  

Radio as a medium is a mouth piece of an announcer or a presenter, it can be use effectively to package programme content that emphasize development and how people can change attitudes for improved living standard. The programmes reflects the desire and value of the society and are designed to attracts listeners attention and hold throughout the duration of the programme Okuna, (1999).

Target Audience

The target audience for the programme is the society as a whole. The role of non government organization on children with disability will be discussed in the programme and an interview will be conducted with the founder of All Children Charity International Foundation, Barnawa, Kaduna.

The programme will create awareness to the public on the role of non-government organization; it will bring about change in attitudes towards persons with disability in the society.

Review of Related Topic

According to Pachaka (2003) the United Nations General Assembly adopted the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons at its 37^th regular session in 1982. The purpose of that programme was to promote measures for      prevention of disabilities, rehabilitation and realization of goals, “full participation”   of disabled persons in social life, development and “equality”. The programme further emphasized that these concepts should apply with the same scope and urgency to all countries regardless of their level of development. It was during this era that public concern and consciousness were directed towards providing people with the same opportunities available to ordinary citizens. Subsequently, the United Nations Decade of the Disabled Persons (1983-1992) came into force thereafter. However, the situation of people with disabilities has not greatly improved since then and their numbers are actually increasing.

There are more than 600 million people with disabilities world wide and 180 million are children, 400 million live in developing countries and 80 million in Africa. Pachaka (2003). The World Health Organization (2002) reported that about 40 percent of Africa’s population consists of people with disabilities including 10-15% of school age children, this percentage translate to about 300 million people with disabilities in Africa (source)

Burton (1996),  notes that people with disabilities have been treated like outcasts for ever 100 years and what ever attention is drawn to them, it is only with sympathy and pity. Disability has been presented as a culturally embedded socially accepted form of oppression against people with disabilities. To date some community members still encounter difficulties in accepting people with disabilities.

Disability rates in Lesotho were considerably higher in rural than in urban areas, an examination causes of disability revealed that for males working in the mines was a major risk factor of amputations, blindness and deafness. Together with causes by disability labeled as “unknown” more than one in two of all male disabilities and about 85% of all female disabilities were due to causes other than accidents and violence BOS, (2001).

Non governmental Organization run community based rehabilitation programmes in the country i.e “Save the children” a disability programme aimed at developing community based support for disabled children and their families, they promote the inclusive of education and also established special schools that cater for those with special needs.

The non-governmental organization provides counseling to people with various forms of disabilities to help them adjust to their disability. In this context, counseling usually involves a wide range of problems such as personal, inter-personal, family, financial, vocational adjustment and educational adjustment.

Lesotho does not have specific legislation dealing with disability issues, its fragmented legislation does not help people with disabilities cause, therefore government should consider providing disability grants to all the people with disabilities in partnership with the non governmental organization Christopher, (2012).

Review of Related Programme

Most programmes organized  on radio are always voluntarily, an individual who owns an organization uses radio as a medium to promote the functions of his/her organization and to encourage people about their attitudes toward person with disability in the society e.g a programme on Kaduna State Media Corporation title “Ability in Disability” produced by Mr. Micah Shabi.

“Ability in Disability” is a 30minutes magazine programme aimed at bringing out ability found in people that are physically challenged. This programme was presented by Jemila Iliya Bushman. It enlighten the public on who is a disabled person, the right word to use when referring to some disabled (physically challenged, persons with disability or disabled person). It is packed with musical time out, vox pop and interview to get the views of the society about disabled people.

Within the programme an interview was conducted with Amina Audu a physically challenged person based in Kaduna where she talked about her experiences being physically challenged.

“My name is Amina Audu, am a physically challenged person, my challenges are I cannot use my hands, legs and turn my neck, I cannot do anything on my own without the help of somebody but thank God I am able to use my mouth to talk and people will understand what I need, I am not disabled, I only have challenges; there is no disabled person in this life, you can only have challenges and everybody have challenges being physically or not in one way or the other. Anyone that call me a disable person I will take such person to court. There are things in live that you can be perfect of and someone will have to help”…

Amina lamented on how people in the society call people like them disable person, she speak good English, she learned through watching television, listening to radio and read story at home; she also type text on her phone while laying down on her bed.

She attended Rehabilitation Centre, Kakuri in Kaduna where she did Radio Therapy and Physiotherapy. She gave her definition of disabled as;

“A disabled person is someone who can not do anything/useless and I believe nobody is useless, a disable person is someone who is dead and gone”…

The programe therefore enlighten the public on the right word to use when addressing a physically challenged person because the Human Right Declaration in 1948 provision (Article 1) applied fully to all members of the society that persons with disability are clearly entitled to full range of right.

Disability Radio Worldwide with Jean Parker is also a dynamic 30 minutes weekly program broadcast by FM stations, and other short wave radio. The producer and host Jean Parker is a well-known disability right activist with years of experience.

The list of the programme guests reads like a “who’s who” of the disability community leadership around the globe. The programe tends to advance the human rights of people with disabilities around the world (www.disabilityradioworldwide.com)

STATION SLUG

Station:                                  Spider Fm [90.1]

Programme Title:                   Our Society Today

Topic:                                      The Role of Non Governmental Organization on Children With Special Needs

Duration:                                30minutes

Programme Type:                  Radio Interview

Presenter:                              Olubukayo Bukola Oyeniyi

Producer:                                Mr. Sunday Agbo

Date:

Instruction

Audio

Cue-in signature tune “instrumentals” for 30sec and fade–out gradually, play on background then cue-in presenter Boost signature under voice for 5sec then cue-in presenter Cue-in soundtrack of Michael Jackson “Heal the World” for 4minutes and fade –off gradually Cue-in presenter Cue-in Interview Cue-in presenter Cue-in soundtrack of Lucky Dube “Put a little love” for 4mins and fade-off gradually Cue-in presenter Cue-in interview Cue-in presenter

Instrumentals Its Spider FM [90.1], Kaduna Polytechnic, here in Kaduna and the programme is “Our Society Today’ with Olubukayo Oyeniyi The topic for discussion is “The role of non governmental organization on children with special needs.  It promises to be enlightening and educating as there will be musical time out, interview and lot more… Stay tuned will be right back To start on the programme there is need to shed more light on the topic for discussion, In Nigeria just like any other countries in the world; the concerns of children with special need is often secondary. Citizens or group of individual voluntarily establish foundation (NGO) to perform varieties of humanitarian services and to also bring citizens concern to the government. All Children Charity International Foundation (ACCIF) situated at Barnawa GRA, Kaduna is one of the NGO established in Kaduna to meet the needs of the specially challenged persons, encourage them to be self reliant and also fight for their rights as a citizen of the country giving them the same opportunities available to normal citizens. Before I continue on the programme, let take a music from Michael Jackson titled “Heal of the World” enjoy. Soundtrack of Michael Jackson “Heal the world” Welcome back, if you just turning in its Spider FM [90.1] and the programme is “OUR SOCIETY TODAY” next is the interview with Bar. (Mrs.) Bosede Oluranti Daudu a mother, philanthropist, founder and team leader of ACCIF, Barnawa, Kaduna Interview… Let take a musical break, it a music of Lucky Dube title: “Put a Little Love”, I be right back. Soundtrack of Lucky Dube “Put a little love” Welcome back, I have been discussing with Bar. Mrs. Ranti Daudu on the Role of NGO on Children with Special needs, stay turned as we continue with the interview. Interview… On this note we come to the end of the programme; thanks to the studio engineer and my producer Mr. Sunday Agbo, am Bukayo Oyeniyi; let show love to people with special needs though they have challenges but they have ability, talents and unique gifts in them, enjoy this music from Bob Marley titled One Love. Bye-bye.

CONCLUSION

A non governmental organization is non political that set it self to provide services for the society on a particular aim and mission which it sees to carry out, it could decide to solve an issue and will not mind whether government looks into it or not based on the passion and mission the organization set up.

All Children Charity International Foundation (ACCIF) is an organization seeking to meet the need, fight and protect the rights of persons with disability especially children. It is an organization set up to elevating the suffering of children that are having challenges in their lives.

Donations to non governmental organization according to Bar. Mrs Oluranti Daudu is described as a trust confide on such organization by an individual, the government, international donors and the society to run.

Finally, physically challenge persons can be seen and relate with as a normal person and not be seen as useless persons in the society because they did not create themselves that way, it is either through accident or other circumstances that brings about this challenge.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.            Non governmental organization should carry out their humanitarian services honestly; it should not be use as avenue to make self profit.

2.            They should organize enlightenment and educating programme on radio or television on the rights of physically challenged persons.

3.            Government should take the priority of physically challenged person more important.

4.            They should enact law in the constitution to back up the legal right of persons with disability in the society.

5.            The society should show love to persons with disability and not stigmatized them because of their physical challenges.

6.            Government should give more support interms of finance to the non governmental organizations.

7.            Non governmental organization should establish recreation centers, amusement park and more vocational school for the physically challenge persons.

8.            Stakeholders have a role to play in such that whatever facilities or donations government donate for the organization should be use for what is meant for.

9.            The media should create awareness programme like workshops, seminars, talk show where the society can relate with physically challenge persons.

10.         Government should in fact give the physically challenge persons free education, health and other necessary facilities.

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Lucky Dube song track “Put a little love” from the album “Soul Taker”, 2011

Michael Jackson song track “Heal the world” from the album “Dangerous”, 1991

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