The lives of people with disabilities are full of barriers -- social stigma, public facilities that are not supportive and fewer career opportunities than the able-bodied. But for them, no one wants to be left out.
To hand them back the rights they deserve, the Universal Foundation For Persons With Disabilities has established a campaign titled "Pan Pai Mai Thing Kan" or "No One Left Behind". Now in its second year, the campaign aims to cherish the rights of people with disabilities and to raise funds for the construction of Chiang Dao's Asean Occupational Training Centre For Persons With Disabilities located in Chiang Dao district of Chiang Mai province
This year's activity includes 20 blind cyclists and 20 volunteers who will cycle from Bangkok to the Asean Occupational Training Centre For Persons With Disabilities in Nakhon Chaisi district in Nakhon Pathom province. The route will cover 15 provinces -- Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Sa Kaeo, Prachin Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Suphan Buri and Nakhon Pathom provinces, covering a distance of 1,500km. The cycling kicked off on Feb 9 and the caravan of blind cyclists will reach the finish line on Friday.
A caravan of visually impaired cyclists arrived at Lumpini Park recently. OmmMaNa P.
HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha chaired the opening ceremony of "No One Left Behind Year 2" earlier this month on Thammasat University's football pitch at its Tha Phra Chan campus. On this occasion, the Princess led the team of visually impaired cyclists from Thammasat University to the Royal Thai Naval Academy in Samut Prakan province, a total distance of 30km. She also offered her royal flag as moral support to the 50 blind cyclists and volunteers.
A brainchild of Prof Wiriya Namsiripongpun, president of the Universal Foundation For Persons With Disabilities, the No One Left Behind project aims to raise a total of 150 million baht for the construction of the occupational training centre for the disabled. The centre will act as a model of all-inclusive occupational training on a regional level. Training at the centre covers a wide range of occupations that are compatible with the demand and capacity of disabled people -- from agricultural occupations to services and tourism. This is expected to help change the perception of society towards disabled people, from being a burden to being another source of energy.
Donations are welcome to help with the campaign so that everyone can be a part and help people with disabilities overcome poverty and have sustainable occupations. They can be made via money transfer to current accounts named Universal Foundation For Persons With Disabilities (Bangkok Bank account number 162-3-077979, Krung Thai Bank 196-6-00208-4, Siam Commercial Bank 264-3-00153-0, Kasikorn Bank 758-1-01398-6 and Bank of Ayudhya 494-0-00140-9). Donations are open until Dec 31.
