| S. No. |
Strategic Goal |
Important Activities of 2003 |
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1. |
The ensure access and full participation
in education for all visually impaired children and youth by 2015. |
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· With the conviction that inclusive education is a
viable option for achieving education for all by 2015, ICEVI in
collaboration with the World Blind Union brought out a joint policy
paper on “Inclusion of Children with Visual Impairment”
and it was disseminated to Governments and organizations throughout
the world.
· ICEVI-WBU joint position paper on education has been finalized
and will be placed before the EXCO of ICEVI in February 2004.
· ICEVI is preparing a policy document on EFA by 2015 which
will be placed before the EXCO in February 2004 for adoption.
· The Regional Chairpersons of Africa, East Asia, Latin America,
and West Asia are working with the local Governments at the regional
level through the Lee Foundation projects and highlighting the measures
to be undertaken for achieving education for all.
· All countries, particularly those in the developing world
are encouraged to develop action plans to achieve education for
all to be realized by 2015. |
2. |
To promote and assist in building of local capacity
to develop curricula, to provide training and to identify and provide
equipment and materials to children and youth with visual impairments
and their parents, teachers and others in their communities |
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· With the help of Drs. Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick
Lee Charitable Foundation, this year ICEVI has organized 79 capacity
building programs in the Africa, East Asia, Latin America, and West
Asia regions covering more than 3500 teachers and other professionals
and helping them update their skills in serving visually impaired
children. In many places, these are the only capacity building programs
currently available.
· Through these projects, ICEVI is developing expertise in
service development at the local level.
· Local capacity building in many places is facilitated through
cooperation with Universities, training institutes and voluntary
organizations, and ICEVI is helping them to develop appropriate
programs to train quality teachers and personnel to work with children
and youth with visual impairment.
· ICEVI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hadley
School for the Blind to facilitate distance education courses in
order to develop the skills of teachers, parents, and visually impaired
persons. ICEVI believes that this is one of the best methods to
increase the human resources in its mission to achieve education
for all by 2015. |
3. |
To ensure that ICEVI initiatives are based on
current evidence of best practice, based on the assumption that
a Research Committee will be established which includes regional
representation. |
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· A research committee has been formed and it has already
started a research study to find out the factors that should be
in place for providing quality services to visually impaired children
in Uganda. The findings of the research, which will be ready by
the end of 2004, will be made available to - other countries in
Africa and elsewhere to help plan services.
· ICEVI is collaborating with the Overbrook Nippon Network
on Educational Technology (ON-NET) and developing a Package, which
will help teachers teach mathematics to visually impaired children.
The package, which will be ready by late 2004, will be available
for use in countries all over the world. |
4. |
To collaborate with and make use of networks to
ensure that substantially more visually impaired children and youth
receive quality and comprehensive education. |
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· ICEVI is encouraging Regional Chairs and country representatives
of ICEVI to collaborate with the national networks to facilitate
expansion of services for visually impaired persons.
· In order to recognize the efforts of parents and also to
involve them in expanding services, ICEVI has created “Parents’
Column” in the Educator.
· ICEVI has assisted the World Bank in developing a “Tool
Kit” pertaining to services for persons with visual impairment.
· ICEVI is collaborating with the IAPB and emphasizing the
need for early intervention under the comprehensive eyecare program.
· ICEVI will be signing a Memorandum Of Understanding with
the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) for promoting the
importance of sports for persons with visual impairment.
· ICEVI is working with UN bodies by taking part in the Literacy
and Education Campaign, the Flagship Program of UNESCO, etc.
· ICEVI has initiated dialogue with the Lions Clubs International
Federation to expand early intervention and early childhood education
through its affiliated programs. |
5. |
To provide information on ICEVI and its services
through all possible and appropriate media to all target groups. |
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· The website of ICEVI has been redesigned and made
more accessible. The website is used extensively by readers around
the world
· The quality of The Educator has been improved and it is
brought out and distributed regularly to nearly 4000 individuals
and organizations around the world.
· The Educator is brought out in English, Spanish, Japanese,
and in English Braille.
· The Newsline of ICEVI has been redesigned and comes out
in the form of a Newsletter, and is being sent to nearly 4000 e-mail
contacts. |
6. |
To build an appropriate and sustainable organizational
structure for ICEVI, to include the required financial base. |
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· ONCE and Asian Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness
have become subscribing members on the EXCO of ICEVI
· A fundraising branch of ICEVI will be opened in Hong Kong
soon
· Organizations working for the blind around the world will
be invited to become subscribing members of ICEVI with a subscription
related to their annual budget
· Individuals have been asked to pay a subscription for receiving
the print copy of The Educator |