INCLUSIVE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME > ALGERIA

Embroidery, painting, and computer

science: overcoming social exclusion
for a better life
n Workshop organized by
the Association

For three years, Handicap In- www.enpi-info.eu

ternational Algeria and the Algerian
Federation of Disabled Persons have implemented
an EU-funded inclusive local development programme as ‘a solution to fight
against the social exclusion of the disabled’. Eighteen associations have par-
ticipated in this programme by developing actions and mechanisms to fight
against the social marginalization of disabled persons.
Text and photos by : Tarik Hafid

ALGIERS – Zaatra is a large village a short distance from the seaside town of Zemmouri. Algiers is only around 70 kilo-
metres away, no more than an hour and a half by car. "When you reach the bus station, turn left, then drive uphill and
follow the avenue which will lead you to the town square." Kamel Foul, President of the El-Fejr (Dawn, in Arabic) Associ-
ation, is waiting for us in front of the grey gate of the sports hall where his Association has its headquarters. Seen from
the outside, the building is far from impressive. Inside however, the place is a real hive of activity. "The Association was
created in 2004 with the aim of providing support to young people at the social, educational, cultural and recreational
levels. There was a strong demand from the inhabitants of the village and even from those living in neighbouring towns.
The initiative garnered immediate success," added Mr. Kamel Foul.

This publication does Raising awareness

not represent the At the beginning, the association launched activity programmes for women and children living in rural
official view of the EC
or the EU institutions.
areas. However, volunteers eventually identified difficulties facing people with disabilities. "It was a
The EC accepts no real awareness raising experience. We noticed that this particular
responsibility or social group is not only marginalized but also completely neglected. ENPI Info Centre – Feature no. 48
liability whatsoever This is a series of features on
For some families, having a disabled person at home is a source of projects funded by the EU’s
with regard to its
content. shame, a flaw which should be hidden from others by all means," Regional Programme, prepared by
emphasized the President of the Association. journalists and photographers on
the ground or the ENPI Info
El Fedjr volunteers have no time for prejudice. They provide support
Centre. ENPI Info Centre/EU 2011©
to disabled persons to try to break their isolation, by encouraging

ENPI Info Centre - Feature no. 48
"It was a real
awareness raising
experience. We no-
ticed that this par-
ticular social group
is not only margin-
alized but also
completely neg-
lected. For some
families, having a
disabled person at
home is a source of
shame…"
n Kamel Foul, President of the
El Fedjr Association of Zaatra
n Xavier Duvauchelle, Director
of the programme at Handicap
International Algeria
Embroidery, painting, and computer science: overcoming social exclusion p.2
for a better life
n Nursery classes run
by the El Fedjr Associa-
tion of Zaatra
them to participate in educational and cultural activities with other ‘able’ persons. Without
realizing it, the Association has been implementing the spirit of the Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities, more specifically its provisions relating to social inte-
gration and inclusion. This key document was signed by Algeria in March 2007 and ratified
in 2009. It reflects the country’s active engagement and has been encouraging the El-
Fedjr Association to participate, since 2008, in the “Inclusive local development pro-
gramme, as a solution to fight against the social exclusion of disabled persons", jointly
implemented by Handicap International Algeria and the Algerian Federation of Disabled
Persons (AFDP), and supported by the European Union.
"This pro-
Consultation gramme was
The El Fedjr Association is just one of the many associations supported by the project, a success as it
which covers various regions in Algeria. The same methods were implemented in 6 wilayas supports as-
(provinces) and in each one of them, various actions were included in the programme. sociations
Some are directly aimed at members of associations to enable them to build their capacity through ac-
in terms of organization and mobilization for the benefit of disabled persons. "We have companying
completely revised our working methods and put in place new mechanisms. The first im- measures.
portant stage consisted in performing an assessment in order better to understand the Executives
environment and needs of each disabled person. This local assessment was a necessary usually fol-
step towards collecting precise data on disabled persons living in our region," noted Mr. low theoreti-
Kamel Foul. Consultation with local authorities, by setting up a local consultation com- cal training
mittee, and particularly with the services of the Municipality of Zemmouri, has facilitated but they
the establishment of a ‘Socialization Space’, which helps break the barriers of isolation fac- rarely have
ing disabled persons. the opportu-
nity to put
Socialization their knowl-
Ms. Nawel Labehri volunteers for the Association. Every Tuesday, she helps to organise edge into
activities within the socialization space. "I stop by the homes of the members of the group, practice".
and bring them to the Association’s headquarters on board a bus provided by the Asso-
ciation. Their families trust me, mostly because I am a woman. What I find hard to believe
is that, when the programme was first launched, they were all very shy and introvert. In
just a few weeks, it had all changed. Today, they are much more open." Many activities are
 Embroidery, painting, and computer science: overcoming social exclusion p.3
for a better life
ENPI Info Centre - Feature no. 48

"Socialization
spaces represent an
immediate tangible
solution to over-
come the difficult
access of persons
with disabilities to
available services".

n Meeting of the Associa-

tion’s members

implemented within the socialization space to develop the individual abilities of partici-
pants and facilitate their social integration. At the headquarters of El Fejdr, participants
can choose to enrol in literacy and computer classes or learn sewing, embroidery, silk
painting and pottery. Trips are also organized throughout the year.

Integration
El Fedjr is also involved in training and education. With the help of the Association, some
members of the group have enrolled in a specialized centre in Corso, a city located a
few kilometers from Zaatra. Even better, a self-employment initiative to facilitate eco-
nomic integration was also launched. Mr. Ahmed Khelifi - one of the many beneficiaries
of this project - was able to buy a flock of sheep. "With the help of this programme, we
were able to receive a grant of 75,000 dinars (around €720) to fund a small economic
project. With this amount, young Ahmed Khelifi was able to purchase 3 goats and 3
sheep in April 2010. The experience was a success as the livestock grew considerably. In
fact, Ahmed should be able to pay back the loan in a few months," explains the President
of the El Fejdr Association.
The Inclusive Social Development programme, jointly run by Handicap International and
the Algerian Federation of Disabled Persons (AFDP), has enabled the launch of various
other economic integration projects. For instance in Taghit, a city located in the Bechar
wilaya (province), about a 1,000 kilometres South West of Algiers, the El Wyam (Concord)
Association created a craft shop. "The craft shop, which is in fact a socialization space,
helps train young people on craft activities. We teach them how to make decorative bot-
tles with desert sand. These items are then sold to shops as tourist souvenirs. We are
pleased because it works rather well," noted Mr. Cherif Abdenacer, President of the Al
Wyam association, at the meeting, which marked the closure of the inclusive social de-
velopment programme.

Accompanying measures
This meeting, held in Algiers on 23 March, provided a comprehensive assessment of the
activities implemented within the framework of the programme. Since 2008, the capaci-
ties of the AFDP have been enhanced, and a national association to defend the rights of
disabled persons formed. Actions launched by 18 associations affiliated to AFDP have en-
abled 200 persons with disabilities in 6 wilayas (Algiers, Medea, Ghradaia, Bechar, Jijel,
and Constantine) to benefit from accompanying measures so they can regain their au-
 Embroidery, painting, and computer science: overcoming p.4
social exclusion for a better life
ENPI Info Centre - Feature no. 49

tonomy. In total, 13 socialization spaces were created in cooperation with local administrations. "We are certain
that this programme was a success, as it supports associations through accompanying measures. Executives usually
follow theoretical training but they rarely have the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice," explains Mr.
Boufekroune Ahcene, the first Vice-President of the AFDP who is responsible for ensuring follow-up on the inclusive
social development programme.
For his part, Mr. Xavier Duvauchelle, Programme Director at Handicap International Algeria, considers it necessary
to enhance cooperation among the actors involved to fight all forms of social exclusion. "Launching local devel-
opment programmes is a new initiative in Algeria. The main problem remains the lack of inclusive measures and
services. Moreover, it is very important to make this approach comprehensive. In this regard, associations can play
a key role, since they are able to guarantee that the rights of disabled persons are respected, and that they are tar-
geted by all measures and services. In addition, they can play an important role in accompanying and guiding dis-
abled persons but also in advising local authorities, businesses, and public institutions responsible for delivering
these services. In this context, socialization spaces represent an immediate tangible solution to overcome the diffi-
cult access of persons with disabilities to available services. Furthermore, local consultation committees which
have been established within the framework of the project should also be replicated given their important role as
an effective tool to ensure cooperation and consultation between associations and public authorities."

Inclusive local development: a solution to the fight

against the social exclusion of persons with disabilities
Through this project, public authorities take into account the specific needs of persons with
disabilities in their policy-making process; and persons with disabilities acquire the means to
become fully-fledged citizens, and are thus able to participate in all aspects of social life and
the development of their communities.
Timeframe Specific objective
2008-2011 An improved structure and better awareness of the issue of persons with disabilities will enable
associations which are members of the FAHM network to develop inclusive actions and services in
Budget partnership with other local actors for the benefit of persons with disabilities.
750.000 EUR
Implementing partners :
Handicap International (France) ; Algerian Federation of Persons with Motor Disabilities Fédération
des Associations des Handicapés Moteurs (FAHM) –Algiers

Find out more

Handicap International > http://www.handicap-international.fr/
Delegation of the European Union in Algeria >
http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/algeria/index_fr.htm
ENPI Info Centre thematic portal – Civil society and local authorities >
http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php?subject=14&lang_id=450

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