CAN stands for Community Based Rehabilitation Africa Network.
CBR Africa Network is a non-government organisation, of which the secretariat is based at the Faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation at Kyambogo University in Uganda. CAN was established in 2001 following resolutions made at the previous CBR Africa Regional Conference, "CBR as a participatory strategy in Africa." CAN aims to facilitate the sharing of information about community-based services for persons with disabilities and their families in African countries.
Through the efforts of a secretariat team in Uganda and the support of an executive committee from 7 African countries, CAN facilitates a number of activities. These include organising conferences, writer’s workshops, encouraging formation of CBR National Associations, managing a website and promoting publications. CAN information is accessible all over the world.
MISSION
CAN exists to promote access to appropriate information on disability and development for all people in Africa
VISION
The vision of the CBR African Network is the equalization of opportunities, social integration and rehabilitation of people with disabilities in Africa. |
OVERVIEW
CBR is a Strategy within community development for the for Rehabilitation, Equalization of Opportunities, Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities (Joint position Paper 2004 ILO, WHO, UNESCO)
CAN was formed at a time when existing information about CBR was scarce and when the information that existed was not readily available to those working in the field. Due to the oral tradition that dominates the communication process in Africa, there was very minimal evidence of documentation and sharing of CBR experiences. This undermined the progress of CBR in the rehabilitation of people with disabilities as good practices were not shared and programmes remained unevaluated. This was a threat, especially in African countries which have embraced the CBR approach and yet lack the documented evidence to eloquently defend the strategy.
Through the formation of CAN it was hoped that CBR workers and consumers would have a chance to share their experiences of good and bad practices. Interaction amongst those involved in CBR and the sharing of experiences and information, would also lead to the development of better CBR practices with the end result of improved quality and human rights of PWD’s in Africa.
NOTICE
For the writing skills workshops CAN provides, for free, the expertise/trainers while the host country is responsible for finding the trainees, accommodation and training venue. To find out more about hosting a writing skills workshop for your organisation or your country please contact joan@afri-can.org
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