Annual Review 2018

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Disability Rights Exhibition in Birmingham Fran Wilde, AVI supporter and volunteer Each year in the Madras Café at Womad we highlight a theme from our partners’ projects through an exhibition of photos and information. This gives a natural talking point to discussions about what Madras Café is doing in a field at a festival. 2017’s exhibition featured NBJK’s Disability Rights programme. It brought together striking photographs and case studies, by Claudine Harris and Michael Sheridan, of eight men and women, young and old, with experience of living with a disability, depicting not only their hardships but also their dreams – and, through NBJK’s project, a relentless drive to make sure their voices are heard. So often in the past our Madras Café exhibitions have been stored away or auctioned to raise funds, but I wanted to find sites for this exhibition to open discussions around where I live in the West Midlands. So, through a bit of research, I found three places willing to exhibit - a church led community centre, Birmingham Voluntary Services Council and Cerebral Palsy West Midlands (an active social and needs support centre). Informal events, with samosas, at both BVSC and CPWM brought opportunities to talk of making links between people with disabilities in this country and NBJK. It’s early stages and, for people who know, that kind of communication can be fraught with difficulties, but possibilities are there.
Case Study Ever-smiling 65-year old Maria strongly believes in destiny - the destiny that has engulfed her life. A lonely life at old age – no helping hand though her children live around the same neighbourhood. However, today she is vibrant and looks forward to each day while discovering new meaning to her life. Maria lost her husband when she was young and worked hard to bring up her three children. Things turned out bitter when her sons, after getting married, began to neglect her. The Elders’ Group formed by CRUSADE acts as a saviour to the elderly women at Akkarampedu village, Tamil Nadu, where Maria lives. The group started in 2016 with 11 elders and today there are 20 members. The group members get together under a tree in a school compound and that’s the moment they cherish. They discuss their health challenges and there is always a strong member to wipe their tears. The health camp organised by CRUSADE also helps them to understand their health concerns, take preventive measures and get a referrals to a government hospital for any further treatment. Another member, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in the recent camp held by CRUSADE is under treatment at a Govt. Hospital and is thankful for the support given to her. Additionally, the group helps the members to access their old age pensions and any other government benefits. The elders today, look at life with positivity: “We come for our meeting neatly dressed. The field worker has taught us that we must keep ourselves clean and tidy. Look at our finger nails – we trim nails, oil our hair and take baths daily. Why shouldn’t we? We want to lead a happy life with whatever little we have,” says Maria. The group members cherish the one-day picnic that CRUSADE organised for them and vividly remember the Marina beach and the memorial of the former chief minister late Dr J Jayalalithaa, that they saw that day. Cover Image: Parathi, Eldery Women’s Group, CRUSADE Back Image: Mrs. P, Social Worker, Community Action, NBJK Images from the Women’s Rights Exhibition
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Annual Review 2018

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