Megan Smith visits PPCIL office and to learn more about PPCIL programmes

On February 15, 2016, Ms. Megan Smith, the representative of UNICEF Cambodia, came to visit Phnom Penh Center for Independent Living (PPCIL) to see the activities and learn about what and how PPCIL is doing to assist persons with severe disabilities living in communities in and around Phnom Penh. Mr. Mey Samith, the Executive Director, told Megan thoroughly about the five main activities: Social Awareness, Peer Consoling, Personal Assistant Service, Advocacy and Independent Living Program all of which have been conducted by PPCIL. More importantly, he added that now PPCIL is implementing a project called Inclusive Community for Person with Disability – ICPD which got fund support from Australian government, DFAT, CDIDF/UNICEF the project will provide awareness raising and capacity development for local authorities to understand the different needs and priorities of persons with severe disabilities. This work will include training and knowledge sharing, accessibility audits and workshop to promote the inclusion of disability and developing the capacity of persons with disabilities in the target areas to advocate for their rights and promote disability inclusion. The project will support 50 persons with severe disabilities in the target areas to access health care and rehabilitation services, understand their needs in relation to Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and where possible support adaptation to homes to increase accessibility and ease of independent living. In additionally, in the ICPD project, PPCIL is a unique intervention design to support persons with disabilities live independently with support from personal assistants, e.g.

Meanwhile, Miss. Poeng Haseka and Mr. Seng Nhep enthusiastically shared their life experiences with disabilities before and after being with PPCIL with Ms. Megan, and those experiences greatly impressed her a lot and gave her the chance to ask them what concerned her. In addition, after having a fruitful discussion, Haseka invited Megan to visit her rental room located 150 meters from PPCIL office. When arrived, Megan was impressed by Haseka room decoration assisted by her personal assistant that this could even reveal the importance of having personal assistant.  She asked Hesaka more how she performs when she comes to live in community that before she had lived in the experience room at PPCIL for a year. She said she really loves the room and wanted to have Haseke visit her place in the near future.

Discussion and sharing experiences at PPCIL office

Discussion and sharing experiences at PPCIL office

On the way going to visit Haseka rental room at community

Visiting activity at Haseka rental room at community