Efforts to mainstream strategic pillars in Community Based Rehabilitation

A two-day strategic workshop for CBR was held in Bangalore from August 22-23, 2022 involving various stakeholders.  Fr. Paul Moonjelly, Executive Director of Caritas India and Fr. Jolly Puthenpura, Asst., Executive Director of Caritas India participated and guided the process. Ms. Christy Abraham and Dr. Nandini Ghosh facilitated the workshop. Advisory committee members, representatives from our earlier NGO partners, Resources persons, the president of DPN and staff of CBR were the participants in the workshop.

Fr. Paul Moonjelly, in his opening remarks stressed the need to link CBR with the KSPs and then align it with the national thematic strategy of CI. He also emphasised creating resilience, “Discuss and understand how vulnerable communities can have their voice, dignity, space, freedom, and choice to make their own decisions that are ironically a challenge to persons with disabilities”.

The objective of the workshop was to reflect on how the CBR thematic areas can be aligned with the key strategic pillars of Caritas India. Ms. Shimray, Lead – Strategy Plan, made a presentation on the “THEORY OF CHANGE” and the Key Strategic Pillars of Caritas India (KSPs), while Mr. Kempaiah, Lead – Impact CBR (Consultant), made a presentation on CBR components, key results and indicators, challenges and the future focussed areas. Mr. Anjan Bag, Thematic Lead- Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) shared a brief note on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and a futuristic view of CI CBR in a disaster situation.

He highlighted the following key points: 1. Addressing multiple vulnerabilities, 2. risk identification and risk reduction, 3. Safety, access, dignity and empowerment, 4. Mainstreaming disability in Development and 5. ICT and innovation.

Group discussions were held on how to mainstream Key Strategic Pillars in Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and came out with a thematic proposal.

Fr. Jolly in his concluding remarks appreciated the efforts made by the CI CBR team in preparing for the workshop and looked forward to a new way of thinking in reaching out to the community through CBR.

He stressed that “The organization strongly believes in partnership and networking. The reliability of local partners for program facilitation is a priority. Increased focus on branding and priority to awareness is the current focus of Caritas India. The motto of the Catholic Church is to work with the community, stakeholders and other like-minded partners.”