Description
The project addresses the difficulties faced by visually impaired people. The project aims at improving their access to information, raising their awareness about their rights and improving their Esperanto language competence through a training course. First, 10 visually impaired young people aged below 35 with basic competence in Esperanto and 10 assistants – volunteers will be selected. Second, the teaching aids will be adapted in Braille, large print and audio format. Third, a 5-day workshop will be held on the rights of people with disabilities under the UN Convention, Esperanto for advanced learners and funding from the EU Funds. Finally, the project results will be promoted among the stakeholders from Sofia, Varna and other cities. The project will benefit visually impaired young people, their personal assistants, families as well as the community of visually impaired people in Bulgaria. The partner will help adapt the teaching aids and hold the Esperanto course
Summary of project results
This project was necessary to fill in the limited access to information for the visually impaired people by adapting information materials and organizing a seminar to present the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the opportunities of the EU Funds and the programmes to finance projects as well as own business and the opportunities for work in the civil society sector and for better mastering the international Esperanto language that enables them to communicate, share their ideas, find supporters in the country and abroad and spread the language of tolerance for the different. The participants (10 young blind people and 10 volunteers) in the training under the project acquired new skills and knowledge in the area of human rights, Esperanto and funding under the EU programmes. They raised their confidence in their own opportunities to protect their rights, create new contacts and be more actively involved in the area of human rights and participation in various projects. Having an adapted version of the UN Convention and being aware of its content enabled these people to search for the needed information on their own and uphold their rights before the relevant authorities as well as help other people from the community.
Summary of bilateral results