Summary from PATCO-students on exchange, autumn 2022

Preparatory training at Førde 

After being in Molde for two weeks, we participated at Norec`s mandatory preparatory training. The aim of this training was to learn more about NOREC`s goals and vision. We also had the chance to visit the SUNNFJORD MUSEUM, where we learned the history of Norway through our host Mariana.

English and Norwegian language training

During the exchange, we attended a English/Norwegian language course, led by Ragna and Bjørn Kjetil. Here we got our certificates , after completing the course

Ceating awareness

We had lessons for several of the cohorts at the social educator programme at Molde University Collage, about CRC and CRPD. The students asked questions and shared experiences from Norway.  We collaborated to find news relevant to the purpose of the Norec project, both Norwegian and Tanzanian news about people with disabilities. When the Norwegian students heard about acts committed by criminals in Tanzania against people with disabilities – especially against people with albinism, they reacted with shock and disbelief.  We explained to them that our government is now making a great effort to protect people with disabilities.

We also visited Fannefjord. There we had time to teach the young students some Swahili word; shikamoo, habari yako and they really enjoyed it. We learned a few Norwegian words from them and we made some posters together. 

We had the time to visit Nordbyen primary school. In this school we met students who have - and those who did not have disabilities. These students study in inclusive classrooms and help each other with love. They were very happy to see us and they were happy to learn from us.  We explained to them about CRC and CRPD and they had the opportunity to ask us questions and explain to us about the rights of children that they know.

The students asked us many questions about Tanzania. They wanted also to know more about how the children in Tanzania live with their parents, do they have right  to express themselves? Do they have right to education? And they also wanted to know how the government helps students with disabilities to get all their basic needs? And if there are tourist attraction in Tanzania, do children visit those attractions? In fact, these students were very excited and we learned a lot from them, by the time we left they had already understood about the project`s aims and they also understood about CRC and CRPD.

Interacting with persons who have disabilities

We received an invitation to visit EIDE, where we met many people who had different kind of disabilities. Some of them was children wha had an assistant together with them. This is a special place where they participate in various sports and games, for example climbing wall, playing football, running and many other physical exercises.  We participated with them and also helped them when we saw they need help, and this led Molde journalists to write about our presence  and we were also able to explain about our project.

Our presence at Eide made many people happy, including vernepleier Bodil Authen. She w invited one of us, Huruma, to visit her at her home so that she could continue to be close to a child who has disability. We were also invited to a party organized for people with disabilities. 

Adults with disabilities learn how to make various things, such as making charcoal by using paper, cooking cakes, cutting firewood and selling it, also the community trust them and gives then order to make cakes that they can buy.  Others make electrical materials and sell it to the society. Through this outcomes we can see how CRC and CRPD are implemented in Norway.

Creating awareness to the society about CRC and CRPD in Bergen city

Before we left Norway, we visited Bergen city. We decided to do a play in the street to educate people about CRC and CRPD, It turned out to be a good thing; people were very interested.

We also visited the HVL University where we were able to meet the students who were on the program to visit Tanzania, we also explained to them about Tanzania and they also asked us some questions about CRC and CRPD how it works in Tanzania, it was really amazing.

Homecoming seminar in Molde

Norec has mandatory homecoming training, and some of their staff visited us in Molde for this purpose. This was the time for summary, evaluation and preparation to go home. We focused on questions such as; what have you learned? What challenges have you faced during the exchange? How was life in general? What are the expectations we have after the exchange; what challenges does the agent of change meet after returning home? A useful experience for all of us.

THE CHANGE; Stop using corporal punishment after exchange

After getting to  know the UN convention CRC and CRPD, I see that I have changed. I have become a good friend of the students ,and I can teach without using corporal punishment and they enjoy learning in that way, I believe even their attendance in class is increasing because they are no longer afraid.

 My lans regarding people with disabilities

* To create awareness to the society about the situation of the disabilities and their rights through UN right CRC and CRPD.

* To change the situation to the society, by engaging people with disabilities in different activities, like sewing and others.  This will help to show the society that even people with disabilities can do something to the society.

*Finding children who are hidden at home, and to make sure that the parents enrolles their children in school.

*To ensure that people with disabilities get their basic needs without being discriminated in their families.

*To write a proposal to different organizations, so that I can find a good way to help people with disabilities, especially those living in difficult environments due to poverty.

* I wish that students with disabilities can live in hoste,l so that they will not face any challenges in term of education, I will involve various stakeholders including government to achieve that.

* I will advice the government to give people with disabilities time to enjoy themselves. For example organizing concerts were people with disabilities can perform. This Can help to know the talents they have, but also for the physical disabled it can help them to strengthen their motors.

*Creating influence on the society and the government to engage in inclusive education.This can help people with disabilities to socialize with others during learning or doing different activities.

CONCLUSION

 We are very grateful to NOREC and all our hosts Siv, Thrine, Inger and others for all the time we lived in Norway, they made us feel at home, now we are really agent of change.

What we expect, is to make sure people with disabilities live a peaceful life in their society, and we believe through CRC and CRPD we will be able to change the negative attitudes of society toward persons with disabilities and we will have community that value disabled children.

We cannot do it alone.  We expect great support from our Tanzania government, we believe that they will give us good cooperation - to build technical colleges for persons with disabilities at least in each region, to give seminars to the community about persons with disabilities and to give them chance in various opportunities.

Names of the student project participants 2022 from PATCO:

Betram Kingazi

Neema Godwin

Happines Rabiel

Leah Wilson

Baraka Segesela

Kilton Eckson

Hawa Swalehe

Huruma Ostine

Rosemary Aloyce