In quest of crossing the barrier

The motivating slogans were ‘Disabled, But Not Disqualified’ and ‘Help plant the seeds of hope.’ These phrases inspired SCHR founders to lay out a strategy, implementing specialized computer programs and models to help those with special needs, such as those Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism and other neurological conditions. They have also implemented specialized and targeted courses aimed at promoting the knowledge base of special-need individuals to help them work independently in society. As Eid surfed the internet for ideas to develop the SCHR, he came across the Sweden-based Stockholm Challenge Award Program. “I became involved at the spur of the moment,” he said. Speaking to FW, Eid added; “I had the feeling that I should take part in this challenge in order to develop a better environment for our children with special needs in the fields of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Special Needs Education (SNE).” Dr Martin Bangemann started the Stockholm Award initiative, based on a European Commission report, in 1993. It became a global award in 1997. The award aimed at creating a strong net-working program for organizations social entrepreneurs who use ICT to support community-based and economic development. Prizes are given to projects that demonstrate and innovative Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in four categories: Education, Culture, Economic Development and Public Administration.

The Stockholm Challenge 2008 programme features six category awards for ICT development projects and a chance to win the prestigious Stockholm Challenge Trophies. The prize ceremony in the City Hall will take place during ‘Challenge Week’ from May 18 - 22, 2008. An extended programme of workshops, conference, study visits and social gatherings will bring together the most inspiring ICT entrepreneurs, researchers and students from all over the world to share experiences and knowledge. The 2008 Award is open for entries until December 31, 2007.

According to Ulla Skiden, the project manager of Stockholm Challenge in Sweden, the winner attracts a prize money to start their project. She went on to tell FW “But, most importantly, all finalists (145 projects) are allowed to bring three persons to the work shops and conference and to the final event in the City Hall without having to pay any fees. That is the greatest pay back for all who participate in the Stockholm Challenge. ….the three day event is free.” As well as the opportunity to bring their skills to practical use, for the good of everybody”.

I asked Nabil Eid why Syria didn’t have an earlier involvement in the Stockholm project? He said: “Well, as a matter fact, efforts were slacking behind due to much routine work. There was no planning in these efforts. They were done as private and local initiatives. Nowadays, we have systemic planning; we have a strategy encouraged by the First Lady through Amal Organization. The new trend is improving our ICT in special education needs. This is a field that is no longer ignored. We are going to have a brighter future”.

The SCHR is the irst Syrian organisation to participate in such a project, it is a step in the overall development of Syrian NGOs. For Mr. Eid, “It is great to be the first one; it is just a start for me! I have a dream that keeps haunting me to (Plant Seeds of Hope) and to realize that dream.

Eid is hopeful that other sister organizations would be encouraged to em-brace this challenge and make some leaps in development. “We want to have sustainable, feasible, fruitful efforts for our ICT disabled cases. Definitely our success could become a circle in a never ending chain of NGO’s that would be created if we achieve success regionally, locally and globally”

He told FW why it is important for the organization to win the trophy, “This challenge is a vital chance for our organization to exhibit our activities and to move ahead in our efforts to achieve our goals in elevating the situation of our ICT in special needs”. Whilst winning the trophy would mean much to him on the personal side, it would mean more to the organization and Tele-centre, “We can continue to do important research to implement more centers so as to provide the ICT centers with essential equipment so crucial to pursue training”. Moreover, it would also be an advantage to Syria to be formally recognized as one of those countries which is interested in developing innovative special needs education.

When FW asked Eid about what more can be done for the mentally disabled in Syria, he said: “Many things can be done for the welfare of mentally retarded people and especially children (Autism, Downs Syndrome, Learning Disabilities, PDD). For example, we can utilize specialized centers that are interested in those cases, by using particular methods of early intervention with children, helping to develop their mental skills and to communicate with their families and also by training their families. We are satisfied that any child or person with mental retardation can benefit from our programmes”.

SCHR has tailored programmes to meet the needs of children with mental retardation who have learning disabilities. The mental retardation program is a unique teaching tool offering teachers and parents both an individualized and an organic growing educational programme to assist early intervention. “The ultimate results will be most satisfactory when the mental retardation cases are able to perform certain activities such as – Mushroom growing, - handcrafts and other traditional activities. This would mean they can help support their families financially.”

In 2008 a new joint collaboration between The Stockholm Challenge and Global Knowledge Partnership GKP Awards started. It is a parallel initiative to Stockholm Challenge. The projects are examined by a jury consisting of a number of international evaluators with experience in designing, man-aging and implementing ICT based projects and programmes. In addition to an advisory board that consists of leading thinkers such as the Microinance for the poor pioneer and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.

The organizers of the Awards claim their aims are to raise awareness for the multi-stakeholder dimension in Knowledge for Development (K4D) and Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D) by showcasing concrete examples to facilitate greater learning. In addition to encourage, identify, analyze and profile innovation and excellence in K4D and ICT4D, with a special focus on multi-stakeholder partnerships. And finally to increase learning, collaborative and partnership opportunities by profiling the activities of selected organizations based on merit.

The prizes in the new award will go to projects that demonstrate exemplary and innovative Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in four Stockholm Challenge Award categories: Education, Culture, Economic Development and Public Administration.

If zeal, commitment and innovation are the requisite criteria then the Stockholm Challenge will have found a worthy winning recipient project in the Syrian Studies Centre for Handicapped Research.