During the first week of July, the Lebanese ONG Arcenciel started with the “adaptation activities” which are the counterpart of the agreement “Improvement of the social integration of disabled people in the Middle East through accessibility” to ensure the accessibility of the public park in the Sin El Fil municipality in Beirut.
After several weeks of study in close collaboration with the technical staff of the municipality, a project was developed which include the improvement of the soil leveling and the path concrete that surrounds the park and gives access to bathrooms and children´s play area. Besides, some handrails were installed which improve the movement of people with disabilities.
This intervention is part of a broader strategy that was formulated in 2010 and includes an agreement with the Lebanese Ministry of Education and the Higher Education. The purpose of the collaboration is to make 5 public schools accessible to Lebanese children with disabilities. Until this day, Arcenciel has carried out four studies to understand the necessities of this project. The ONG is hoping to initiate the project within the following weeks.
The planned activities will be carried out by people with disabilities who are also trainers at the partner institutions: Al Hussein Society (Jordan), CEOSS (Egypt) and Bi Yad Yadan (Syria). The work will be realized with the facilities of Arcenciel and will be located in Jisr el Wati.
The project aims to remove barriers, ensure greater independence and mobility of the disabled and promote their rights to access equally to public spaces.