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Archive for November, 2019

7 Nov 2019

Accessibility of key Public Space Assessment, September 2019

In line with the general purpose of civic engagement program of political and social life of people with disabilities, Iftin Foundation conducted five-days field assessment (10th – 14th September) on key public spaces/places those provide service facilities in Mogadishu those made it possible an access for people with physical disabilities, especially where those with physical disabilities are able to access their services without the need for further assistance and demand.

This assessment was data carried out from the field in details and findings obtained during the assessment period are as shown below tables.

 

We have managed to reach 13 public service locations including Universities, Police stations, District Commissions, Banks, Business Malls, Hotels, Telecommunication companies and Hospitals.

 

Places visited, proportional numbers and percentages

NO Public places Number of Places Percentage
1 Hotel 2 15.38%
2 Police Station 2 15.38%
3 District Commission 2 15.38%
4 Bank 2 15.38%
5 University 2 15.38%
6 Business Mall 1 7.7%
7 Hospital 1 7.7%
8 Telecommunication com. 1 7.7%
Total 13 100%

 

Number of places reached and district locations

No Districts Number
1 Waberi 4
2 Hodan 4
3 Wadajir 2
4 Howlwadag 2
5 Hamarweyne 1
Total                                       13

Below is a summary table of findings

Questions YES NO St. Agree Agree Neutral Disagree 

 

  1. Do you believe that your space is fit to welcome persons with physical disability
5 8
  1. Have you ever encountered a complaint from people with disabilities about accessibility in your place?
4 9
  1. Do you agree that facilities have to include access to persons with physical disability
11 2 0 0
  1. Does your organization/institution/company have any rules/procedures on how to treat people with disabilities?
5 8
  1. To the best of your knowledge, are there laws/rules about accessing disability people in public spaces.
3 10
  1. To your knowledge, are there people with physical disabilities who were unable to reach your workplace/building due to lack of accessibility?
2 11
Total 19 46 11 2 0 0

 

The assessment found, that 4 public places provide service facilities suited their places an accessibility for the people with disabilities, one place was normally accessible without understanding for PWDs while other 8 out of 13 were inaccessible their service the people with physical disabilities.

NO Space visited Designed accessible Natural accessible Not Accessible
1 Police station 0 0 2
2 District commission 1 0 1
3 Hospital 1 0 0
4 Bank 1 0 1
5 Business mall 0 0 1
6 Hotel 0 1 1
7 University 0 0 2
8 Telecommunication 1 0 0
Total 4 1 8

 

 

This table shows people with physical disabilities and accessibility status as in percentage.

No Accessibility status Number Percentage
1 Designed accessible 4 30.8%
2 Naturally accessible 1 7.7%
3 Not accessible 8 61.5%
Total 13 100%

 

Conclusions

Findings were discovered shows that 4 spaces out of the 13 selected places which equivalent 30.8% have accessible design for people with disabilities, and 1 place is naturally accessible without any deliberate design for serving of people with disabilities while other 8 places which equivalent 61.5% have no accessible service for People living with disabilities.

84.6% respondents from key public spaces visited responded that there is need to have access of people with disabilities for the facilities of public places by marked strongly agree and 15.4% respondents selected agreed in the assessment form provided while there is no anyone refused.

Recommendation

Based on the assessment findings shows that most key public spaces serving with community including people with disabilities have no access facilities for PWDs. Grant assumed similar results and hence proposed follow on activities to address these gaps in facilitating access to persons with physical disabilities to public spaces to encourage their public and political participation.  As such, IFTIN will support the following interventions and activities to attempt at responding to these challenges. IFTIN will consider how key public places owners/managers to be aware for facilities accessible for physical disable people.

 

IFTIN will consider the following interventions in the future;

  1. To engage high level awareness programs for the public in order to bring the attention of the people that people with disabilities are active and great number of the community.
  2. Spaces and buildings’ plans should be included that people with disabilities particularly those physically disable to have access with the facilities provides by the places.
  3. To have laws treat with the disable people by relevant bodies to secure the rights of the people with disabilities in Somalia in both accessibility and participation of politics and the public life.
  4. Based on the assessment, most of the respondent said they didn’t received any complaint from people with disabilities about inaccessibility of their facilities where accessibility of their spaces is very low, thus people with physical disabilities required to double their efforts and share their service barriers with public space owners/managers.
  5. Construction companies, owners and the local government are required to consider that this very serious business to keep the value of people with disabilities.
7 Nov 2019

Two Days Workshop of Public and Political Participation for People with Disabilities

Iftin Foundation organized  on 8th – 9th September two days workshop of Public and Political Participation for People with Disabilities funding by USAID through Creative Associates International.

The workshop was followed the two previous workshops conducted on 1st – 2nd September which was supposed to engage people with disabilities for enhancement of their public and political participation. During the participation of attendees there was discussion among the participants on the topic of discussion and it was amazing, inspiring and creative workshop with high participation among the participants as well as the facilitators.

7 Nov 2019

Launching Civic Engagement Program for Disable People

Today (1st September 2019) Iftin Foundation launching new program of Public and Political Participation of People with Disabilities in Somalia. This is civic engagement program for people with disabilities in Somalia which funds USAID through Creative Associates International.

This was a workshop attended 25 participants from different civil society organisations of people with disabilities based in Mogadishu, as physical disable people, Blind and Deaf people. This program revolves public and political participation improvement of people with disabilities and general awareness to the public in order to have inclusiveness among the society and moral building of the target beneficiaries.

Iftin Foundation is trying to conduct effective campaign about disable people’s situation in Somalia.

 

7 Nov 2019

One Day Workshop Exclusively Dealing with the Role of Private Sector business on Female Job Placement

August 26, 2015, Mogadishu Somalia

With the support of Somali Stability Fund (SSF), The Fursad program under the initiative of IFTIN Foundation has organized and implemented a one-day workshop exclusively dealing with the role of private sector business in female job placement scheme On August 26th 2015.

 

The one- day workshop has been held in close cooperation with the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), and the workshop was convened at the SCCI Center in Mogadishu, Somalia. Thirty eight selected participants from the various segments of the community were the main participants of the workshop.

 

The participants were consisting of members from the universities, Banks, Somali chamber of commerce and industries, civil society organizations, spare part business, advertising company, industries, agriculture, Ministry of Petroleum, intellectuals , trading companies and IFTIN Foundation. The main intention of the workshop was to provide platform to the selected participants for discussing, debating and sharing information on the status of female graduates and focus on the role of the private sectors in seeking job placement for the female graduates.

 

This workshop was based on presentation on brief information on the background of the Fursad initiatives, its objectives and discussions and debating on the role of the private sectors businesses and the female graduates and making valuable recommendations.

Mohamed Abdi Ali Gabeyre, the Chairman of the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in his opening remarks appreciated the participants for attending the workshop.  He said there is high rate of unemployment in Somalia, and many people have now joined in the business sector which was limited before. He indicated that that they are welcoming the Fursad initiative, and underlined the females should be encouraged as women are more trusted then men.  He pointed out that females are good in communication and secretariat, and that some companies have now started providing job opportunities for the females. He suggested female graduates should accept to work in low salaries as starting point. At that stage, the one-day workshop event was closed up.

 

7 Nov 2019

Data Collection on Job Placement Scheme for Female Graduates Workshop

IFTIN Foundation in partnership with Somali Stability Fund (SSF) has organized and implemented a one day workshop exclusively focusing on data collection on job placement scheme for female graduates that was held in Baidoa on 22nd August 2015.

 

The one day workshop has been held in close cooperation between Fursad Program and the Southwest Chamber of Commerce Centre in Baidoa. Thirty-eight participants were selected from various segments of the community from local authorities, Civil Society Organizations, Private Companies, and South-West Non State Actors Organizations. (SOWENSA).

 

The main intention of the workshop was to provide platform for the selected participants for discussing, debating and sharing information on the status of female graduates while the main challenge facing them in job Placement and highlight key recommendations to deal with the female graduates’ problem.

 

This workshop was based on presentation on brief information on the background of the Fursad initiatives, its objectives and discussions and debating on the role of the private sectors businesses and the female graduates and making valuable recommendations.

 

Mr. Ahmed Moalim Isaq, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce welcomed in his opening remarks and appreciated the participants and the Fursad initiative for attending the workshop.  He said there is high rate of unemployment in Somalia, and many people have now joined in the business sector which was limited before. He indicated that they are welcoming the Fursad initiative, and underlined the females should be encouraged as women are more trusted then men in the community. He stressed the need of the Chamber of Commerce of the South-West Should give priority to this issue and support the initiative.

IFTIN Foundation has come up with strategy to solve and address the problems related to finding jobs placement scheme for the female graduates.

 

7 Nov 2019

Networking Event among Businesses and Female Graduates

 

Iftin Foundation closely collaborating with the Puntland Chamber of commerce and industries organized networking event among businesses and female graduates in Bosaso Putland Somalia on 9th June 2015. This event was supposed to discuss the possibilities of networking establishment among business sector and female graduates in order to improve gender labor production and women economic empowerment.

 

Mohamed Osman Lambo, welcomed the participants and officially opened the meeting and declared the agenda of discussion while Iftin Foundation’s project coordinator Mss. Nasra introduced business leaders who were invited in the event summarized core terms of discussion and duration of program.

 

The Participants appreciated the programs and achievements made by the Foundation and its young Visionary leadership. The previous achievements of the foundation included opening a radio Iftin which used broadcast debates developing female education programs. Audiences were shared designed Data base to link the Employers and young female graduates in Somalia called Fursad.so back office.

 

During the event discussion and debate several challenges were identified by both private companies and Young Female graduates related Cultural and societal beliefs, mentality of female graduates as well as the absence of connections and links between private enterprises and young Female graduates while the lack of clear government policies and interventions towards the employment of the Female graduates is obvious.

 

Dayax, the marketing officer and Representative of Golis Telecommunication, the Director of Ilo-Tango Company, Abdirizak Said Farah, the managing director of Red sea Company collectively discussed their views in the program and appreciated that work is over the expected.

7 Nov 2019

Role of Business, NGOs and Government on Female Graduates

Iftin Foundation collaborating with Puntland Chambers of Commerce held dialogue about the Role of Businesses, NGOs and Government on female graduates in Garowe on 7th June 2015. The occasion which was organized as the high level meeting among the above three entities discussed their effective roles on young female graduate employment and career development.

Ahmed Ali Ugas, the executive director of iftin Foundation and Mr. Abduqadir, the chairman of Putland chamber of commerce welcomed and thanked together for all guests from government, NGOs, private companies and civil societies for attending this wonderful session and announced that session is open. After thanking and opening the dialogue Mr. Ugas talked about the importance of this theme” The role of business, NGO’s and government on female graduates job placement” and how it’s vital to talked about and discuss it overly.
Discussion Outcome

The facilitator briefly introduced Iftin foundation and their initiate project named ”FURSAD” with the participants for the aim of prompting job placement of female grandaunts in public and private sector. Mrs. Nasro, the project coordinator gave details to the subject and why they choose? She appreciated the attendants and talked about how FURSAD was initiated and reaches this position, she remarked that recently Iftin Foundation had been working on education sector in the entire Somali regions and this project named Fursad was out of the programs that Iftin Foundation was established and worked for recent years. Nasro continued her speech and noted that the main aim of FURSAD project is to promote and advocate job placement of female graduates in private companies, because most of private companies don’t provide and employ female in their settings and that may have negative impact on their physical, mental and, economic and social development. Furthermore noted that Iftin Foundation had done several studies on young female graduate’s job placement in private sectors, and they discovered that 20.5% of female worker employ education sector. I.e. schools, nursery, and higher institute and so on. And on least ranking percent was telecommunication sector. Finally noted that Iftin Foundation has developed a database which helps young female graduate to submit their CV’s and also enable other interesting private companies to sort out their job candidates from the website.www.fursad.so

 

 

 

 

7 Nov 2019

Launching of the Fursad Female Job Placement Scheme Project.

 

The Fursad female job placement scheme which is sponsored by Iftiin Foundation in partnership with Somali chambers is planning to Network Somali Female graduates and the employers throughout Somalia on 13th May 2015. A lots of participants including Government officials, civil society, international organizations, education and business sector participated the launching ceremony.

Abdirahman Moalim Ablal, the Vice Chancellor of University (UNISO), said that ‘the role of universities came out , as they developed girls in educating them , the  only part remaining is to take part in the recruitment of girls of Somalia, that rhetoric the opportunities for girls to go to schools and universities is limited but needs to work hard on what they have learned to find a job.  He said that they want to work with the equality of girls and has directed employers to select staff on the basis of what they have learnt.  He also stated that it believes that the idea of girls remain out of work , as the sons of getting employed is outdated as many opportunities for girls will remain empty space.

Abdirahman Gabeyre, the Chairman of the Somali Chamber of Commerce said that as a business associate in they believe that an educated women is  an educated society’  adding that in the event of boy and girl asking for a loan from the market  the business community gives priority to girls , because he said that girls often don’t lose money  lent to them. He also stated that ‘he believes  the idea of the boys being less expensive than girls is false.

Sadia Sharif Hassan, an Somali women entrepreneur from Minnesota in the United States , who  used to make a home made pepper and market it, also spoke today’s  the business that is booming. She said,  any human being hasn’t been born without a mother, so girls are the backbone of the nation’ She also noted that in their theory they believe that girls can restore peace in Somalia, adding that the goal of job creation was greater than girls , and one day they will change our country if God wills.

Eng. Abdirahman Omar Osmaan “Yarisow”, Somali Politician said a number of factors that derail girls efforts is to come out of university and get the best jobs after they come out of university as girls receive a job evaluation, the government are required to encourage girls work and organize girls themselves in order develop  and advocacy their rights to go by their employers  as well as girls from the university to get an office to develop their skills role advancement.

MR, Hassan Ahmed Sadik, the executive director of  SOSCENSA, discussed the religious wise and  spoke of women and their roles in the family , he said that following our prophet Muhammad recommended being good to girls so as they became a better wife in the future and declared that only an educated girl can be a good mother . Speaking on religious material he said that social scientists have learned to say : ” Every hero and progress in society , honor and good name it is  impact  stands a good girl . Meanwhile, he urged companies to implement projects to provide employment opportunities for the girls , He was  asked ‘How many girls get to work , if any businessman has to take into account employing only 10 girls, the opportunity for girls will expand?

Ali Mohamud Ibraaahim (Dhere), the Chairman of Civil Service Commission, said that government employees are 4,020  and 25 % of them are girls and plan to consider to employ great number girls. Mohamed Omar Mohamed, the Director General of the Ministry of Women and Human architecture of the Government of Somalia said a key factor that girls are afraid to go to work is called exchange of sex for a job, a legal issue , which he said will be held into account during July parliamentary meeting which he said they will table ( bill of sexual abuse )

Aweys Sheikh Haddad, the Director General of the Ministry of Labor thanked IFTIN for opening  opportunities for girls and the office is grateful since the foundation is targeting girls out of the university to arrange a way to get their jobs . Mr. Hadad in  a separate incident, also said that both parties look at the stands of women since it is not acceptable anywhere in the offices /staff working ,women to be less than 50. During the launching event number of girls were hired some of the local banks, new platform called fursad.so and SMS service for job opportunities was inaugurated by Iftin Foundation.