The Caribbean Council for the Blind-Eye Care Caribbean [CCB-Eye Care Caribbean], in collaboration with the World Blind Union (WBU) and Perkins Institutional Development Programme, hosted a Leadership Development Workshop for persons (youths) with visual impairment during July 26th to 29th, 2010.
The Workshop was held at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus in Barbados and participants were drawn from The Bahamas (Antoine Munroe), Barbados (Felicia Balgobin, Lisa Williams, Shonnel Holmes and Tacita Ford), Dominica (Wayne Raphael), Jamaica (Sharmalee Cardoza and Vivian Blake) and St. Lucia (Stacia Jules and Orlando Alcide).
The main Facilitator was Dr. Aubrey Webson Program Coordinator – IDP Senior Consultant – (Perkins International IDP Programs), with support from Mr. Arvel Grant (CEO, CCB-Eye Care Caribbean), Senator Kerryann Ifill (Consultant – National Disabilities Unit (Barbados) and Deputy President of the Senate (Barbados); and two Guest Speakers drawn from the Public and Private Sectors of Barbados – Senator Andre Worrell and Mr. Curtis Padmore.
Frank Bowen of CCB-Eye Care Caribbean served as Workshop Manager, while Ms. Marjorie Watson, Adjustment to Blindness Instructor, attached to the National Disabilities Unit, provided adjustment to blindness services for participants.
Purpose and Objective of Workshop:
Purpose:
To empower youths with visual impairment to assume leadership roles in Organisation of/and for the Blind across the Region.
Objective:
To enhance the leadership capacity of young persons with visual disability in the Caribbean Region, in preparation for their assumption of future leadership roles.
Topics:
Among the topics discussed were:
History/Profile – CCB-Eye Care Caribbean, with reference to:
1. Vision 2020: The Right to Sight;
- Social Inclusion: re: United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD);
- Inclusive Education re: Education for All Children with Visual Impairment (EFA-VI Initiative);
- Advocacy in the Caribbean Region.
2. What value would you bring for inclusion in a Leadership Programme for persons with visual disability in the Caribbean Region?
3. What would you most look for in a Leadership Training Workshop that would add to the enhancement of your personal experience?
4. Describe Leadership and Leadership Styles?
A: Identify your own Leadership Style and those of your peers.
B: Identify the Leadership Style you display or other around you display at:
Work/Home/Organisation/Community.
5. Discuss leadership needed to achieve Organisational Objectives in relation to implementation of Programmes for: Vision 2020: The Right to Sight; Inclusive Education; Education for All Children who are Visually Impaired (EFA-VI Initiative); Inclusive Education; United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD); and Advocacy in the Caribbean Region.
6. Reflect on your personal vision and what actions you are taking to achieve your goal. Self-awareness, career development, future planning. Where I am today? Where do I want to be two to five years down the road? Mapping the path.
7. Career development, resume and open discussions.
8. Technology – for persons with visual impairment.
9. Executive Life Skills – featuring the sharing of work experiences in the NGO, Public and Private Sectors by: Senator Kerryann Ifill, Senator Andre Worrell and Mr. Curtis Padmore.
In keeping with tasks assigned by the CEO of CCB-Eye Care Caribbean, the Participants agreed on the following:
- The establishment of an Organisation to be known as: “Youth Network for Empowerment, Advocacy and Action”.
The following persons were identified to undertake specific functions in the Organisation:
- Chair/Convenor – Felicia Balgobin (Barbados) – convene meetings;
- Secretary – Vivian Blake (Jamaica) – to draft Workshop Report; compile, submit and circulate Country Activity Reports;
- Public Relations Officer – Antoine Munroe (The Bahamas) – to establish E-Group/Facebook Group and share info with members (by August 31st, 2010).
- Compilation and circulation of Workshop Reports: – each Participant to submit a report (one page) on Workshop to Secretary for the compilation of a general Workshop Report.
Identification of In-Country Projects for implementation:
The following were identified for implementation:
Barbados: Parents Workshop(s) – Advocating for provisions to be made for children who are blind or visually impaired to write CXC within the School System.
Bahamas (The): (October – Sight Awareness Month) –
Advocating for Training and Employment opportunities for youths with visual impairment.
Dominica: Identifying youths who are blind or visually impaired and what their needs are re: planning appropriate strategies for meeting those needs.
Jamaica: The Salvation Army School for the Blind – promoting Braille Literacy.
St. Lucia: Media Campaign in May (Blindness Awareness Month) – re: Employment opportunities for youths with visual impairment.
- Provision of quarterly updates to Secretariat; and Secretariat to explore the establishment of a link to CCB Website
During the closing session, Participants expressed the view that the Workshop was timely and had met its objective and their expectations. They also undertook to implement the tasks which were identified and to provide regular feedback on the progress of their assignments.
The Workshop Manager expressed appreciation on behalf of CCB-Eye Care Caribbean to the Dr. Webson (Facilitator) and Participants for their attendance and participation and wished them success in their undertakings.