COMPETITION
Mental Disability Advocacy Program (MDAP)
Open Society Institute - Budapest
OSI Assistance Foundation (OSI AF) Azerbaijan
Network Media Program

Call for Proposals

Public Awareness Regional Grant Competition 2003 in South Caucasus

MDAP, the OSI AF Azerbaijan are jointly launching the Public Awareness Grant Regional Competition with the aim to raise awareness about the problems faced by people with DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

The purpose of the Public Awareness Grant Competition is to:

1. Promote the Human Rights of People with Developmental Disabilities in all areas of life (e.g. the right to access to education, the right to work; the right to own property, etc.)
2. Raise awareness of segregation and stigmatization of people with developmental disabilities and promote their integration into society;
3. Strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to effectively advocate and combat segregation of and stigma against people with developmental disabilities.

The message of the campaign is that rights of people with developmental disabilities are human rights, and that people with disabilities are not objects of charity and/or passive patients, but independent citizens with the right to be fully integrated into society.The focus of campaigns should be on everyday problems that people with developmental disabilities encounter in getting education, finding jobs, and getting access to high-quality daily care and health services.Campaigns should challenge myths and stereotypes, explain the causes and consequences of segregation and stigmatization and address strategies that could prevent institutionalization of people with disabilities.

Successful Campaigns can include the following forms of reporting:

• Multimedia (multiple media) saturation campaign (high media coverage); for example, interviews, reports, radio and TV clips, TV programs, media visits to community based service providers;
• Involve a wide cross-section of society (different sectors, different interests), for example by organizing public events in the street, schools, universities, cultural events, public discussions, roundtable meetings, exhibitions, sporting events, billboards, posters and leaflets.
• Building public support for necessary changes and/or improved legislation regarding the rights of people with mental disabilities
• Persuading national and local governments to provide adequate financial resources for implementing new programs and services to prevent and combat segregation of people with mental disabilities
• Including government representatives and officials in campaign activities, such as public discussions, roundtables, forums, art or sporting events.
• Coordination and cooperation among several non-governmental organizations active in the work with people with mental disabilities
• Building/strengthening coalitions among governmental institutions, non-governmental organizations, media, and all stakeholders connected to the issue
• Development of systematic and realistic models for action that correspond to stated objectives of the campaign

Successful candidates are expected to organize public campaigns between November 28 and December 4, with the focus on the December 3, the International Day of People with Developmental Disabilities.

Priority will be given to projects submitted jointly by two or more NGOs, which include clear involvement of people with developmental disabilities' in all phases of the campaign.

Special consideration will be given to nation-wide campaigns.

The participating NGOs do not necessarily have to be NGOs, working with people with developmental disabilities, others (like human rights NGOs, etc.) wishing to be more active, or which are already active in mental disability advocacy are eligible to participate as well.

Up to 10 percent of the total grant may be spent on administrative costs; at least 90 percent of the total grant must be spent on program costs.

The deadline for applications is May 26, 2003; 16.00.
Applications received after the application deadline will NOT be considered.

All applications should be submitted to:
Open Society Institute - Assistance Foundation
Public Health Programs Coordinator
Leyla Imanova
Azerbaijan, Baku, 370110,
117A, Hasan Aliyev street
Tel: (99412) 412722, 986933, 986910 (ext. 211)
Fax: (99412) 986934
E-mail: limanova@osi-az.org