Kızılay Launches Awareness Project on World Disability Day

Red Crescent "Barrier-Free Club" Project on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The Turkish Red Crescent, aiming to enable persons with disabilities to participate voluntarily in ongoing activities and take an active role in assistance processes, seeks to ensure the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities on equal terms in all aspects of life through the "Barrier-Free Club" project to be launched on 3 December, International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Following a decision made by the United Nations in 1992, 3 December was designated as "International Day of Persons with Disabilities" and is commemorated each year worldwide through various events aimed at drawing attention to the problems of persons with disabilities and fostering better understanding of them. The Turkish Red Crescent, as a proactive institution in accordance with its mission, carries out numerous activities to provide assistance to persons in need and vulnerable citizens during disasters and in normal times, to develop mutual aid in society, to ensure safe blood supply and reduce vulnerability, to connect persons in need with resources, to identify vulnerable groups and ensure their participation in social life, and to strengthen social resilience.

Persons with Disabilities to be Supported for Active Participation in All Areas of Life

The Red Crescent, aiming to enable persons with disabilities to participate voluntarily in ongoing activities and take an active role in assistance processes, will launch the "Barrier-Free Club" project on 3 December, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, to ensure full and effective participation of persons with disabilities on equal terms in all aspects of life. The "Barrier-Free Club" project, to be conducted in coordination with the Turkish Red Crescent Social Services Directorate, will be implemented in all branches of the Red Crescent throughout Turkey. The presidents, members and volunteers of the Barrier-Free Clubs to be established in branches will be composed of persons with disabilities, and efforts will be made to enable persons with disabilities to become members or volunteers in branches. Barrier-Free Club members will provide Red Crescent training to citizens residing in Accommodation and Rehabilitation Centers, persons with disabilities and their families, and will deliver psychosocial support to disadvantaged groups such as disaster victims, the elderly, patients and their relatives, prisoners and orphans, while cooperating with NGOs. The Red Crescent will also plan activities such as distribution of gift packages, patient care and visits to the elderly, and will organize awareness and sensitization training on disability in primary, secondary and high schools in provinces and districts.

The Project's Work Areas Will Be Implemented Across a Broad Spectrum

The Turkish Red Crescent, prepared to undertake various activities through the "Barrier-Free Club" project, will implement the project across a broad spectrum, including primarily social assistance and support activities, blood donation events, psychosocial support work, activities to combat stigma against persons with disabilities, disaster preparedness and awareness campaigns, green environment initiatives, activities for stray animals and work to prevent waste. The Red Crescent will also conduct various trainings, organizing programs such as healthy living, first aid, Red Crescent principles, basic disaster awareness, volunteering, child protection, prevention of household accidents and prevention of infectious diseases, thereby enabling disadvantaged groups to participate actively in all areas of life.