PART 1- Project Concept Title: Empowering persons with disabilities through selected income generation activities in the

Muyuka Sub Divsion

A SUMMARY

Background and Justification

Around 10 per cent of the worlds population, or 650 million people, live with a disability. Persons with disabilities are the worlds largest minority. This figure is increasing through population growth, medical advances and the ageing process (WHO). Eighty per cent of persons with disabilities live in developing countries (UNDP). In Cameroon, about 12% of the total population are persons with disabilities; about 60,000 70,000 are persons with visual impairment; among which six to seven thousand live in the South West Province and about 180 240 are permanently living at the Muyuka SubDivision (personal correspondence and social report) Disability rates are significantly higher among groups with lower educational attainment (OECD). Ninety percent of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school, and students with disabilities in higher education remain under-represented (UNESCO). The World Bank estimates that 20 per cent of the worlds poorest people are disabled, and tend to be regarded in their own communities as the most disadvantaged. The poor conditions of disabled persons in Cameroon render them even more helpless with regards to paying for basic education and access to basic facilities compared to their abled peers. In Cameroon and in the South West Province in particular, the incidents of disability are higher for women than men (personal correspondence). This makes women more vulnerable in the disability line experiencing exclusion on account of their gender and their disability. Many persons including children found in the streets of South West Province are beggars, disabled as well as those subjected to child labour. According to UNICEF, 30 per cent of street youths are disabled. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that about 386 million of the worlds working-age people are disabled. In Cameroon, persons with disabilities are less privileged and are hardly considered for employment. Consequently, unemployment among the disabled is as high as 80 per cent. Most often employers assume that persons with disabilities are unable to work and may require special need facilities hard to provide (_ HYPERLINK "http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/facts.shtml" __http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/facts.shtml_ ) Most persons with disabilities in Cameroon especially those found on streets are exposed to public victimisation such as rape, armed conflict, torture and insults making them face serious exclusion as well from socio-economic and political systems. Visually impaired persons in the Muyuka Sub Division come up with much prejudice within the social and economic systems. They are being highly marginalised and therefore live mostly below the poverty line caused not only by their disability (impairment) but also by the social and economic discrimination. This discrimination results from the lack of understanding between their community and among persons with disabilities themselves. A commonly found point of view in some of these local communities is that for example persons with disabilities (blind, deaf, handicapped, etc) should stay at home and never to leave their residences because they disturb everyday citizens by their very presence. These social and economic exclusions are real and disturbing to the development of persons with disabilities in the Muyuka Sub Division. This has been a very long standing problem which this proposal seeks to address. The ability to appreciate the available efforts and potentials of persons with disabilities is likely not apparent until they are provided with the right opportunities and support for expression.

The project is aimed at providing technical and logistical support to the Foundation of United Handicapped, Orphans and Street Children to establish fundamental sustainable empowerment programs that not only provide skills and hope for persons with disabilities in Muyuka and its boroughs but also ensure a strategy for environmental protection. This project will provide the capacity and the tools so that persons with disabilities can develop skills and opportunities to improve on their living conditions. One project component shall establish a disability empowerment centre and another ensure capacity building on selected income generation activities for persons with disability in an ongoing basis

Project Goal, Components, outcomes and activities

The overall development goal of this project is: To reduce poverty among persons with disabilities through multilateral training to generate income. This contributes to the achievement of the MDG of poverty reduction in development countries by 2015. The specific objectives are: Construction of a disability empowerment centre with facilities. Capacity building and improvement of livelihoods (Improvement of lives among persons with disabilities in Muyuka Sub-Division and boroughs through engagements in selected income generation activities). A) Component1. Disability Empowerment Centre (DEC) Disability Empowerment Centre (DEC) shall be constructed at Ekona and used for multifaceted capacity building of persons living with disabilities. The DEC shall be equipped with capacity building (training) resources and facilities. The construction of the DEC shall be a fundamental tool in achieving the goal of this project. Specific objectives: Construct a localised centre for training Improve the management practice of FUHOSEA executive committee. The outcomes of this component will be: A DEC constructed and equipped with training facilities and s Estimated cost: 16,000,000 francs CFA (US$40000) Sources: FUSHOSEA (in kind) 12.5% Donor 87.5% B) Component 2. Multifaceted capacity building and training Multidimensional capacity building shall be carried out to improve living conditions of persons with disabilities and ensure independence. The project will undertake a number of income generation activities for all class targets by FUHOSEA (blind people, orphans, handicapped and other visual impairment) and considered by this project to free them from poverty and reliance on others. This will include: Educational training to improve the levels of literacy among members. This will be achieved through reinforcement of reading and writing (brail) capacities of the blind people; computer training for persons with other disabilities as this will cover gap for inefficiency in basket weaving/craftsmanship. Technical training on the weaving of baskets, foot mats, flower baskets using industrial waste

Capacity building on daily living skills for visually impaired such as mobility, reading the time etc) Animal production (poultry, piggery, rabbitry) The out come of this component will be: Enhanced ability of blind members to read and write; acquired computer skills Capacity in sustainable management of industrial waste through weaving Improved daily living skills Engagement in other income generation activities such as poultry, piggery and rabbitry. Estimated cost: 12.000.000 francs CFA (US$30000) Sources: FUSHOSEA (in kind/cash) Donor 100% C) Socio-economic and development systems integration Persons living with disabilities are highly excluded from many social, economic and development systems in the Muyuka, Ekona local areas of the South West province. To overcome this marginalisation, there is need for persons with disabilities to become self supportive as well as being innovative. Socio-economic and developmental cooperation will be fostered through their innovative baskets and foot mats marketing and social gathering at their DEC. The outcomes of the project will be: Strengthened social and economic cooperation within their community and beyond Involvement of persons with disabilities in decision making for local development Established market for woven baskets Estimated cost: 2,000,000 FCFA (US$5000) Sources: FUSHOSEA (in kind/cash) Donor 100% Total expenses (A+B+C) = US$75000 Taxes (3%) = US$2250 Administrative overhead (10%) = US$7500 Total Fund requested = US$84750 Program and Policy conformity This project proposal is consistent with components 1, 2, and 3. It will build capacity to sustainable management and effective running of the activities of the project undertaken at an established DEC and would demonstrate best practices for doing so in its multifaceted training programs The development of management mechanisms for poverty reduction in the marginalised group (persons with disabilities) are envisaged to support donors strategies to reduce poverty (achieving the millennium goals) by 2015 in developing countries.

Project design
Brief description of the problem

Currently the estimated number of blind people within Cameroon is around 70,000. 7,000 of which are located within the Southwest Province. 98% of blind people come from a poor background, and many including those of the old age cannot fend for themselves (pers corr). The consequence of their disabilities makes them unprivileged to basic education and or facilities and the necessities for a sustainable living. This group of persons with visually impairment is almost excluded from physical training opportunities envisaged for self support and sustainable development. The blind people within the Muyuka Sub Divisions of the South West Province of Cameroon as a whole come up against much prejudice within their society. They face problems of marginalisation and live in abject poverty. This is not solely due to their disability but more due to social discrimination; this discrimination is due to a lack of understanding between the community as a whole and its disability and less privileged members. For example: - A commonly found point of view in the local communities is that blind members of the community should stay at home, it is commonly believed that blind people should not leave the house, he/she in being blind is disturbing everyday citizens by their very presence. This issue has been a long-standing problem that needs to be addressed. Some attempt has been made by certain blind members of the community to amend this point of view; people have been listening to the words of Bah Gallus but he himself feels that there is still much misunderstanding and the local community needs to appreciate that_ blind people and other persons with disabilities are (or have the potential to be) skilled and useful members of the community. It is ideally good to have a common place where they could have freedom of empowerment and expression. Some of these persons with disabilities are quite talented individuals, and could extend these to the untalented members. Also they are often with heightened awareness; developed as a result of their disability, but the key factor is that the majority lack the ability and opportunity/medium to create a sustainable livelihood for themselves. Gender Of particular importance to this project is the problem that female members of the disabled persons are particularly discriminated against, not only is there the problem of marginalisation, but gender equality. This group of people is wholly regarded as useless to the community. Of course this makes the struggle to survive particularly difficult. This project is attempting to deal with both problems, to show the local communities that persons with disabilities as well as the less privileged; male or female are of value to the community thus have the potential to contribute positively to the socio-economic development of their community. Past attempts by the government of Cameroon to support persons with disabilities in this region remain insufficient to address all issues highlighted by this present project proposal. The results anticipated from this project will influence decision makers to establish support mechanisms to persons with disabilities and the less privileged in other areas of Cameroon. Need for localised disability empowerment centre. Some persons with disabilities are quite skilful and are willing to impart their skills and knowledge (reading, writing, daily living and computer) to those unskillful members. They have limited means to organise and pay for training

workshops. The construction of a DEC for persons with disabilities will help reduced cost of training and financial implications of the unskillful members. Lack of capacity and opportunity for learning (reading and writing) There is limited existing capacity in for undertaking innovative weaving of baskets, floor mats and flower jars using industrial waste by persons with disabilities to improve living conditions. The baskets that Bah Gallus makes (and will be training workshop trainees how to construct) are a high quality superior product to any other basket currently in the Cameroonian market. The baskets are also built from the industrial waste of packing and shipping industries; in this way Bahs Baskets help to reduce industrial waste, thereby illustrating the way in which recycling (in Cameroon) can be a viable money making business for persons with disabilities (esp. the blind). Also Bah Gallus is a trained blind adult in brail reading and writing and he is willing to collaborate with other literate of his kind to empower others. Need for social and economic empowerment Social gatherings are media for expression of opinions and information sharing. Such events and related activities are instrumental to social and intellectual stimulation as well as networking. They can be very innovative when properly organised. These are envisaged by the project proposal and therefore provide room for social and economic development. The fact that capacity building shall result to self support activities, the need for a market survey for their products (baskets, foot mats, carpet brush etc) shall be fulfilling in the sales of finished products. Scenario Donor(s) resources (financial) will be utilised for the project component(s) and activities that will produce group (FOHUSEA) benefits such as construction of an economically, culturally and socially viable disability empowerment centre (DEC) for present and future persons with disabilities, the development of best practice for industrial waste (ropes) management, capacity building on blind daily mobility and literacy, computer skills and income generation activities the Muyuka Sub-Divisions and beyond. Donor(s) resources will assist members of FUHOSEA to develop and implement their group development strategies and other socio-economic plans to achieve poverty reduction as specified by the Millennium Development Goals Other aims of this proposal in particular would be to ensure capacity building of FUHOSEA members to increase the number of skilled persons with disability of the group/organisation. Through support of this project, donor(s) of project components will enable the FUHOSEA members to provide longterm improvement of their living conditions, thus reducing poverty among group members as well as their dependence on their respective families. 4. Expected Outputs The successful implementation of the project will produce the following outcomes: Disability Empowerment House constructed and furnished and made available for multifaceted training workshops A disability empowerment centre constructed for persons with disabilities to improve their skills (reading and writing using the brail, daily living skills, computer); Sustainable livelihoods business skills developed in weaving and animal production Technical skills sharing with other disabled members in the local community and beyond;

More skilled trainers available for future training workshops in order to spread these specified skills; Dignity and human rights of persons with disabilities gained/achieved through performance and effective social stimulations; Communication facilitated among persons with disabilities as well as their peer community members (computer training); Understanding established among potential trainees to comprehend and learn from the training that Bah is offering. Living conditions of persons with disabilities (FUHOSEA in particular) improved A good market established for products 5. Sustainability (including financial sustainability) Capacity building (training) is a fundamental activity if the ultimate goal of this project proposal, to significantly reduce poverty among persons with disability as well as the unprivileged is to be achieved. FUHOSEA is an association committed to mind the well being of the disabled and unprivileged community in Cameroon. An indication that such commitment can be achieved is demonstrated by the participation of members in meetings and kind contributions. Further in kind contribution is expected to increase through the implementation of the project. The construction of a disability empowerment centre (DEC) shall ensure future trainings at low costs. The capacity building in diverse activities (income generation weaving, animal production, computer skills and visually impaired literacy) is a mainstreaming aspect of this project proposal (component 2 and 3) shall ensure longterm viability of the project. Post-project institutional support FUHOSEA has established a coordination mechanism with a full-time project officer employed to support project activities and reporting. This coordination mechanism will provide a strong supporting framework for continuing and building on project success before and during implementation. 6. Replicability The Disability empowerment house will act as a local hub for training and learning for FUHOSEA members and other interested persons with disability and unprivileged from the project community. The first trainees support in future training as trainers. Best practice including methodology, lessons, problems encountered and successful solutions will be disseminated through exchange visits, published materials and project workshops. 7. Beneficiaries Direct Blind trainees Workshop trainers-employment Sales target benefit from the baskets Indirect Members of blind community known by the trainees Future sales target (buyers) Community members and using Disability empowerment centre facilities for meetings, local development and civil society organizations. 8. Financial Modality and Cost Effectiveness

The full project cost is estimated at thirty-three million, nine hundred thousand francs CFA HUS $84750. This includes funding from donors and the kind support of FUHOSEA for the two year project. 9. Institutional Coordination and support The proposed project is consistent with FUHOSEA management to play the primary role in advancing financial management of all donor support both financially and materially. FUHOSEA serves as the implementing agency and will ensure that the outputs from the project are made available to its donors as relevant and applicable. The outputs from the project may be particularly pertinent to the work of the FUHOSEA management (including contracted consultants-project officer; and others), which receives technical and logistical support from project donor(s) 10. Implementation/Execution Arrangement The approximate project implementation structure is illustrated in figure 1 below. The implementation agency of this project will be FUHOSEA management with some technical assistance of project consultant Expertise and operational capacities/responsibilities of FUHOSEA Name Title Function in the organisation Experience in the project domain Tanda Godwin Project consultant Friend 07 years (6 yrs with the Mount Cameroon Project, Limbe Botanical and Zoological Gardens and 6 months Living Earth, 6 months at Centre for Nursery Development and Eru Propagation (CENDEP Bah Gallus Project Officer staff 7 years (Rehabilitation Institute for the Blind, Bulu-Buea Noble Amin Elvis President Staff 2 years president of FUHOSEA, 1 year Seminar facilitator with Community Based Rehabilitation, Limbe; Besem Nelson Treasurer staff 2 years with FUHOSEA, 15 years of shoe mending proprietorship. Logical Frame Objective Results Activities Objective1. Construct a Disability Empowerment Centre for FUHOSEA Result 1.1: A localised disability empowerment centre (DEC) constructed and equipped 1.1.1 Recruitment and inception of contractors (builders and carpenters) 1.1.2 Construct and equip DEC. 1.1.3 Allocation and arrangement of units and subunits ie training unit, education unit, and basket show room Result 1.2 Reduced cost of training and financial implication for 60 unskillful persons with disabilities. 1.2.1 Develop selection criteria for training per family 1.2.2 Organise meetings with selected individuals

1.2.3 Carry out trainings. 1.2.4 Distribute certificates of participation Result 1.3 Improved management skills of FUHOSEA executive committee 1.3.1 Engage some executive staff in training opportunities on project and financial management as well as leadership Objective 2. Capacity building and improvement of livelihoods Result2.1. Illiterate persons identified and educated to read and write using the brail, daily mobility skills using the white stick, reading time of the day 2.1.1 Make a check list of learning materials 2.1.2 Develop an education program 2.1.3 Select candidates per family/zone to be trained Result 2.2 Livelihood improvement through multilateral training on income generation activities 2.2.1 Design activities and recruit consultants 2.2.2 Select participants for training 2.2.3 Carry out training and provide support Result 2.3: Social and economic ties strengthened among able peer groups 2.3.1 Conduct sensitization campaigns on socio-economic cooperation 2.3.2: Announce socio-economic positions in local news papers or local conservation networks: and recruit experts 2.3.3: Carry out baseline socio-economic surveys of target communities 2.3.4: Conduct market analysis for livelihoods products Result 2.4: Leadership, management and marketing skills of 60 disabled persons improved 2.4.1: Select the 60 disabled persons for training 2.4.2: Conduct trainings and workshops Result 2.5: Persons with disabilities are involved in local decision making 2.5.1: Sensitize able peer communities

2.5.2: Reinforce participatory approaches in local development Objectives/Results Indicators Means of Verification Assumptions Objective1. Establish a functional empowerment centre for FUHOSEA group Result 1.1: A localised empowerment centre constructed and equipped 1.1a: A multipurpose disability empowerment centre Field visit/inspection tour Land title exist for the allocated plot Result 1.2 Reduced cost of training and financial implication for 60 unskillful persons with disabilities 1.2a: Number of participants Training reports List of participants Willingness of unskilled disabled persons to be trained. 1.2b: % of trainees applying skills Objective 2. Livelihood improvement through multilateral training on income generation activities Result 2.1. Illiterate persons identified and educated to read and write using the brail 2.1a Literacy levels raise Project progress report Willingness to learn through reading and writing Result 2.2 Livelihood improvement through multilateral training on income generation activities 2.2a Incomes improve Interview results Training reports Pig fences Rabbit pens Poultry houses Trainees adopt and apply multidimensional skills Result 2.3: Social and economic ties strengthened among able peer groups 2.3a interactions levels improve Interview/questionnaires Reports of baseline studies Fair social system exists Result 2.4: Leadership, management and marketing skills of 60 disabled persons improved

2.4a Number of social events between groups Socio-economic baseline reports Understanding between target groups exists 2.4b Social and economic interactivity increase 2.4c Degree of representation in decision making bodies Composition record of decision bodies 2.4d Accuracy of financial, project and group reporting Auditor report 2.4e Increase in market demand for livelihood products (baskets, shoe mats, etc). Sales records of products with prices from trainees Result 2.5: Persons with disabilities are involved in local decision making 2.5a Degree of involvement in local council decision making Active participation records Willingness of persons with disabilities to take up leadership positions

Work plan Year 1 2 Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Activities 0. Project initiation workshop x 1.1.1: Recruitment and inception of construction contractors (2) x x 1.1.2 : Construction and equipment of empowerment centre X x x x 1.1.3: Allocation and arrangement of units x 1.2.1: Training in weaving xxxXxx Select trainees x Hold meeting with selected participants x Preparation of material Xx Matting and basing xx Erection of walls x tensioning X closing of mouth edge X Fitting and rolling of handles x Distribution of certificates X x x x 1.3. Education xxxxXXXX X X X X X X X X X X X Design education module xx Purchase of learning materials X Select candidates per family x Implementation of education programme proper XXXXXXXX X X X X X X X X 3.1.1: Baseline surveys X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Sensitisation X Recruit socio-economist X Carry out baseline survey + market analysis of product (reports) Xx 3.2.1 Leadership training x x x x x X x x x x x X sensitisation x workshop and seminars Xx xx xx

Monitoring and Evaluation: The project coordinator shall undertake 4 sessions of monitoring and evaluation every after three months. In addition there shall weekly and monthly reporting and planning meetings for project staff. The M&E sessions shall be conducted in the form of workshops with presentations by field staff, followed by plenary discussions The recommendations made during the review workshops shall be taken into account and activities programmed to implement them during the next phase of activities: An independent evaluator shall be contracted at the end of the project to assess the project. We will appreciate our project donor to carry out mid term evaluation of the project. Information on our organisation Name of organisation Foundation for the United Handicapped, Orphans and Street Children (FUHOSEA) Project title: Livelihood improvement for persons with disabilities in Ekona Sub Division Contact Details mailing address Foundation for the United Handicapped, Orphans and Street Children (FUHOSEA) Ekona Mbenge C/O Catholic Mission Ekona, PO BOX 70, Muyuka Sub Division SOUTH WEST PROVINCE, CAMEROON Telephone (237) 74543434 Fax N/A E-mail _ HYPERLINK, Bah_gallus@hotmail.com Mission and goals of your organisation United action for the underprivileged and their plight Legal Status (country of registration and registration number) Community Based Association Date of creation Number of paid staff None Number of female paid staff None Number of voluntaries 6 Number of female voluntaries 2 Number of female staff in secretarial and other support staff 1/1 Contact person (name, professional background, and current function within NGO) Name: Professional background: Current function within NGO: Bah Gallus Craftsman volunteer staff

Project personnel (for each member of the project personnel,

Indicate: name, Mr. or Mrs., professional background, and current function within NGO; for persons who do not currently work for the NGO, indicate in addition current employer, address, and function for this employer):

Name Professional background Current function within FUHOSEA 1 Mr. Tanda Godwin Botanist Volunteer consultant/friend 2 Bah Gallus Craftsman Volunteer project officer 3 Noble Amin Elvis Local communicator President 4 Besem Nelson Cobbler Treasurer 5 Ambe Johnson farmer Secretary Name of executive director Noble Amin Elvis Board or Trustees of the Organisation (please give names and contact details) Chairman: Mr Ekane Edmond Ebwe Secretary: Bocuba Dora Sasse other members 1. Mme Mbome Mafanny Julie (Conservator, Limbe Botanic Garden) Tel: +237 99 99 89 13 2. Sally Ekoli Eko (Social Anthropologist) Email: _ HYPERLINK "mailto:sekoliko@yahoo.com" __sekoliko@yahoo.com_ 3. Paul Fuhnwi

(Anthropologist) Email: nyamyellepaul@yahoo.co.uk Tel: +237 77 34 79 89 4. Bah Gallus (Staff) _ HYPERLINK "mailto:Bah_gallus@hotmail.com" __Bah_gallus@hotmail.com_ Tel: (237) 74543434 9. Tanda Godwin Ade (Friend and Consultant) Tel: +237 77 22 77 66 Email: _ HYPERLINK "mailto:godytanda@yahoo.fr" __godytanda@yahoo.fr_