International Day of Persons with Disabilities
In early December in Moldova were carried out a series of events related to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3rd of December), in order to draw awareness to the problems that these persons are faced with in their everyday lives. The Automobile Club of Moldova took part in many of these events, because the road safety problem touches all the population, but for people with disabilities road traffic becomes a real hardship.
On 3rd of December all organizations of disabled people from Moldova gathered at the “ARTICO” centre for a charity fair and visitors could buy different handmade things in order to support these people. There was also organized a Sport Festival for disabled people, where they had the opportunity to show the skills of playing ping-pong, billiard and arm wrestling. The ACM representatives discussed with them about the problems and risks they meet on roads. They also filled in the questionnaires within the survey developed by the ACM in collaboration with Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport to identify the existent problems and opportunities to improve the access to road traffic. Some persons expressed the gratitude for the fact that somebody is interested in their opinions and suggestions.
At the end of festival, the President of Moldovan Disabled Sports Association, Mr. Serghei Afanasenco and other representatives agreed to support the #SaveKidsLive campaign within the Third United Nations Global Road Safety Week (to be held on 4-10 May 2015) and signed the boards with road safety messages for society.
On 5th of December, the ACM in partnership with puppet theatre “Foisor Fermecat” and National Patrol Police organized the road safety spectacle “Alex in the city” for the children from the Community Centre of Disabled Children and Youth. The children were very happy to learn the traffic rules in a so funny way. The Police representatives explained about the importance of reflectors for pedestrians and together with ACM team and Zebra mascot distributed reflectors to everyone. The children also received balloons donated by Operation Florian from UK.
“These open minded and lively persons highlight how precious human life is. Everyone must understand and be responsible for his actions in road traffic, because on this depends not only his life, but lives of other people too” mentioned Tatiana Mihailova, project manager ACM.
Media coverage:
http://igp.gov.md/ro/comunicare/stiri/angajatii-inp-alaturi-copiii-nevoi-speciale
