Conference, Study trip/excursion • Tbilisi/Telavi
International Seminar on Support for the Deaf-Blind and study visit of participants from Armenia and Azerbaijan in Georgia
The aim of the seminar is to establish cooperation with DB organizations from V4 countries and to promote and raise awareness about deaf-blind persons among specialists from Armenia and Azerbaijan. The solutions implemented successfully in Georgia, based on Polish experience, may be an inspiration for our neighbors, where these solutions don’t function yet.
19 participants of the project will take part in the seminar. (V4 – 4 persons, Georgia -5, Armenia – 5, Azerbaijan – 5). Other interested people from Georgia will be able to participate in individual events. The guests from Armenia and Azerbaijan will be selected according to the key – a specialist in the issues of visual and hearing disabilities, leader of a non-governmental organizations, people with deaf-blind family members, people representing public institutions. Thanks to such a diverse selection, we involve people from various areas who can become local leader and want to solve problems of deaf-blind persons through their involvement and at the same time gradually build social awareness, including officials, and involve other institutions in the activities and the support for the deaf-blind.
It will last 4 days and will take place in Tbilisi and Telavi.
Using the example of Telavi, we want to travel outside the capital of the country and present how our organization operates in the regions. Telavi is a city located 150 km from the capital and one of our 4 deaf-blind support and rehabilitation center operate there.
Our beneficiaries – the deaf-blind, will be involved in all the events of the Seminar. One of the assumptions of the project is to ensure full availability of events and their activation. Therefore, we will provide audio description of events for people with severe visual disabilities, and for deaf and hard of hearing persons, translation into sign language and special headsets to amplify the sound will be available. Members of our organization will also ensure presence of interpreters-guides.
The events of recent days have exacerbated relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The conflict over the Karabakh has been waged since the late 1980s. It escalates from time to time. However, this does not interfere with the organization of meetings. Georgia is a neutral country for Armenia and Azerbaijan, which has been a place of meeting and peaceful cooperation for years. Regardless of the course of the conflict, the citizens of Az and AM always had the opportunity to travel and attend tripartite meetings in Georgia.
Another potential risk may be the COVID19 pandemic. The seminar is planned for April 2021. According to the forecasts, this is the time after the end of the second wave of the epidemic. The Georgian authorities declare that a complete lockdown scenario is out of the question. Participants from Armenia and Azerbaijan will come to the seminar and study visit by land, so that the possible flight limitations do not matter much. If it is not possible for 4 experts to come to Georgia, we will ensure their online presence at all planned events.
Framework program
Day 1
- Presentations of each partner and their achievements.
- Workshop prepared by the guests from V4 regarding the beginning of the support for the deaf-blind in their countries.
Day 2
- A meeting organized in cooperation with the Ombudsman’s office in Tbilisi entitled “Support for the Deaf-Blind in V4 and South Caucasus countries”
The meeting will be dedicated for the representatives of public institutions responsible for social affairs, persons with disabilities as well as for NGOs.
Experts from V4 and Georgia will participate in the expert panels.
1. Building the foundations of support system for the deaf-blind.
2. Challenges faced by the parents of deaf-blind children.
3. The role of the support and rehabilitation clubs in the social activation of deaf-blind persons.
4. The situation of the deaf-blind in Armenia and Azerbaijan – possibilities for development.
Day 3.
Visit to the support and rehabilitation club in Telavi.
Meeting with the club leaders/beneficiaries and representatives of local authorities.
Presentation of the club’s achievements.
Workshop on creating club work strategies conducted by a V4 expert.
Day 4.
Discussion on the prospects of continuing cooperation within partner organizations.
Discussion on the preparation of project recommendations.
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