J679N Advocacy Through the Arts

The Situation

A key underlying issue in Cambodia is the lack of understanding and awareness about the value—both social and economic—of individuals with disabilities. The project complements the Community Outreach Program also offered by Epic Arts, which identifies people with disabilities in Kampot province and refers them to appropriate services according to their needs. Through this work, the project offers arts workshops to the deaf, physically and intellectually disabled, addressing isolation, one of the major social issues surrounding disability in Cambodia. Some of the other manifest issues related to disability in Cambodia include a lack of appropriate physical support and resources e.g. accessibility, physiotherapy treatments, economic marginalisation and exclusion from mainstream services such as education.

Available socio-economic indicators that support this evidence (taken from the Handicap International France 'Disability Facts Briefing Paper', March 2009) include:

• Less than 10% of children and youth with disabilities have access to any form of education
• 43% of people with disabilities are illiterate compared to only 9% of non-disabled people
• People with disabilities on average earn 65% less than people without disabilities

The Objectives

Advocacy Through the Arts project is providing and maintaining building infrastructure to empower young people with disabilities to participate in art workshops and creative activities at a fully accessible arts center in Kampot province, Cambodia. Beneficiaries with learning disabilities range in age from 3-35 years of age.

The project's goal is to tackle this issue through education and public engagement. By providing new skills and fostering personal growth, the project helps students become role models and inspires other young individuals with disabilities. Greater understanding, acceptance, and value for people with disabilities will, in turn, lead to improved services and equal opportunities.