CBR Project launches new curriculum
The University of Gondar CBR Project designed a new curriculum for CBR field workers on disability and conducted a one day workshop on the 3rd of April 2013. The workshop involved different stakeholders, including Faculties and Departments who are directly or indirectly linked to practices related to peoples with disabilities. In his welcoming speech during the workshop, Ato Ashenafi Takele, Coordinator for CBR Project said the program aims to create integration and full participation of people with disabilities into their communities in North Gondar Zone.
The University of Gondar has been implementing community based rehabilitation (CBR) in North Gondar zone for the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities since 2005.
Major stakeholders of the Project are families of children with disabilities, DPO’s, community leaders, Labor and Social Affairs Office, local schools. With a vision to be a center of excellence in CBR services, capacity building training and disability research undertakings in Ethiopia. The CBR project has undertaken different activities in different North Gondar Zone Woredas aimed at alleviating problems of peoples with disabilities
In his keynote address, Dr Afework Kasu, General Director for Research and Community Service described that the fundamental reasons for establishing higher learning institutions is to provide community service to local people complying with their needs and interests. In this regard the University of Gondar has a unique and long established culture of working with and for the people around to the betterment of their lives. According to Dr Afework Kasu, setting community service as one core agenda in the University stretches back to the day of its inception. The University was established as a training center with the single mission of curbing the dire health conditions faced by people living around this region, conditions such as plagues, leprosy, other causes of disability and epidemics claiming hundreds of lives of the people around. He also underscored that the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Project focuses on enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families, meeting basic needs and ensuring inclusion and participation. He added that the University of Gondar is proud to consider CBR program as a key community service and a leading pioneer running successfully with unreserved support of the Light for the World.
He finally thanked Light for the World for the great support and success they made, and the CBR Project Office for realizing the workshop. 
The training for CBR field workers was conducted by Anne Marie, an expatriate staff member from the Physiotherapy Department followed by questions and suggestions by the participants. There was also input from various scholars covering different fields of study in order to enrich the curriculum.
Learn more about the work by visiting the CBR Project information pages.
