Visability Team mobilized members and group of youths in Malang to join Dance4Visability (D4V) at Car Free Day (CFD) Malang, Indonesia on December 6, 2015. This event was held to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities every 3rd of December.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities itself has been proclaimed by the United Nations since 1992 and also celebrated by the world on December 3rd every year. This event was celebrated to promote an understanding of disability issues such as limitations and diversity also to mobilize and support for the fulfillment of the rights and welfare of people with special needs.
Taking the theme of ‘Dancing Together Against Stigma’, volunteers, educators, and people with disabilities, including children with special needs, as well as parents did awesome flashmob attended by no less than 100 participants. Flashmob’s movement was adapted to the abilities of the disabled-people. “We want to show the talent of children with special needs and to build solidarity,” said Nanning Purwa, public relations Visability Team. Flash mob begins with a solo dance by Arif Setyo Budi, the first break dancer with one leg in Indonesia.
Not only Flashmob, the committee also held several events. There was a booth for counseling on disability given to people who have relatives or friends with disabilities, blood donors (transfusion) to commemorate RED DECEMBER which is the National Project of Indonesia YES Alumni Association (IYAA). There were 5 representatives from Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Malang, Indonesia helping this blood donation. It started from 07.00 am till 09.30 am and followed by more than 80 participants, consist of differently-abled children and their parents, representative of teachers, YES Alumni, volunteers and public audience. Total 82 registrars donor and 33 bloods given. Also Photo booth as a form to support the fulfillment of the rights of people with special needs by social media campaign.
“Fun campaign under title Dance4Visability aims to disseminate to the public that December 3rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the public are expected to participate for the rights of the disabled in various ways,” said Ahmad F. Aziz as Project Manager Visability Project.
Meanwhile, D4V supported by a number of communities and institutions. There are Kojigema Institute (Community Study of Gender in Malang), AFS (American Field Service) Intercultural Programs, Yayasan Bina Antarbudaya, YES (Youth Exchange and Study) Alumni Small Grants, US Department of State, FAMM (Young Women Activists Forum) Indonesia. Then supported also by JASS and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).
“We hope that the stigma of the disabled can be minimized, because basically they have the same rights like others”.