Participants of the USAID-supported Republican Charity Festival of Creativity for Children with Disabilities - “Wings of Childhood” - organized by the local NGO “Belarussian Association of Assistance to Children and Young People with Disabilities”.

USAID assists disadvantaged groups such as orphans, vulnerable children and people with disabilities (PWDs), by broadening civic participation and strengthening the role of civil society organizations to support these vulnerable groups. USAID works to improve social services and to ensure the integration of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups into the broader society while also addressing discrimination and strengthening the capacities of PWD organizations and communities.

USAID assists disadvantaged groups, such as people with disabilities (PWDs) and victims of human trafficking, by broadening civic participation and strengthening the role of civil society organizations to support these vulnerable groups. USAID works to improve social services and to ensure the integration of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups into the broader society while also addressing discrimination and strengthening the capacities of organizations and communities.

OUR PROGRAMS:

Expanding Participation of People with Disabilities

USAID activities enhance social and economic inclusion of people with disabilities by building the capacity of local PWD organizations. USAID helps these organizations to establish and extend a range of services, and improve their ability to promote disability issues on the national agenda and advocate for PWD rights. USAID also promotes inclusive education as a way of integrating PWD into society.

At the moment, USAID supports the Art for Inclusion of People with Disabilities project implemented by the Belarusian Association of Assistance to Children and Young People with Disabilities. The first cycle of the project was aimed to form a positive attitude towards the disabled, expand their opportunities, and promote their inclusion in society. The project targeted primarily young people aged 16-25. An awareness raising campaign implemented in the framework of the project reached over 15,000 people through creative events, exhibitions and informational materials promoting inclusion and the elimination of stigma.

The new cycle of the project launched in 2016 will further increase inclusion and improve the quality of life of children and young people with disabilities through strengthening the capacity of disabled people’s organizations and developing community based services. In particular, the project will support at least 10 initiatives of local PWD organizations to improve access of children with disabilities and their families to social services in local communities.

Countering Trafficking in Persons

USAID supports enhancing Belarus’ capacity to counter the challenge of human trafficking by strengthening civil society organizations. The project focuses on assistance to victims of trafficking and provision of reintegration services, a targeted information campaign to increase the awareness of people about the dangers of human trafficking, and promoting safe job searching among vulnerable populations. Since 2005, almost 2,000 victims received reintegration assistance. To date, 3,600 people received job-skills training conducted by CSOs. USAID partners conducted awareness-raising and educational events on the dangers of TIP for more than 80,000representatives of at-risk groups, including young people in educational establishments.