Workin for better conditions and respect for persons with disabilities in both countries

This academic year I have been participating in the NOREC project "Children with special needs in Norway and Tanzania - Improved life quality through implementation of UN Rights" through Molde University College. 

In January 2020, together with 9 other fellow students from Molde University College, I went to Tanzania to work with our partners from Patandi Teachers College and Patandi Primary School. Living in, and learning from a different culture have been exciting, but also challenging and frustrating. I have experienced both differences and similarities to the Norwegian culture.  

Something that caught my attention while I was there, was that some of the expressions they used about people with disabilities could be quite stigmatizing. This was reflected in the signs that were hanging over the classroom-doors, as you can see in the pictures.  In Norway, there has been a growing focus on avoiding stigma and labelling people by diagnosis. Two persons with the same diagnosis, can be just as different as two without diagnoses. There are so many other aspects that define us. Even if I could notice the beginning of a change in the social perceptions and thinking about people with disabilities in Tanzania as well, they were still referred to in this certain way. 

 
In the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) article 5 “Equality and non-discrimination” it is stated that all persons are equal, and that the States Parties shall promote equality and take all appropriate steps to eliminate discrimination.   

As social educator students, we early learnt about the importance of seeing the whole person, including thoughts, feelings and needs. Attitudes that we have towards other people, and perhaps especially people with different disabilities, are reflected in what we say and do. There are many factors that help to maintain a stigma - our language, especially.  Statements like "she is autistic" or "the disabled" were often heard in Tanzania. It is important to be aware that such statements largely contribute to label persons by their challenges, needs and emotions. Characterizing persons by their weaknesses may contribute to stigmatization and, hence, hinder empowerment and equality.  

I believe that by exchanging knowledge and experience, and together discuss and reflect on such subjects, we can all achieve improved consciousness. This way, we can, in collaboration, work for better conditions and respect for persons with disabilities in both countries.  

Kind regards, 

Kristin