Economic participation

People with a disability in Peru often live in isolation and have limited access to basic facilities. Poverty and disability often go hand in hand. The disabled have less opportunity to develop and use their potential as their ability to get education and participate in the labour market are limited.

INEI (Peruvian National Statistical Agency) figures for 2005 show that 13% of the Peruvian population has a physical disability; that amounts to approximately 3,5 million Peruvians (Directorio sobre Educación, Salud y Asociaciones de Personas con Discapacidad - 2006). The majority of these live in poverty or extreme poverty without access to basic facilities. Research has shown that 81% of these people never received any help in the form of rehabilitation (see the survey: “Leven met een handicap in Peru”; wensen, behoeften, belemmeringen en kansen van mensen met een lichamelijke handicap in Peru m.b.t. sociale en economische participatie by C. Beckers, 2008). The livelihood of people with a disability is determined by:
• Marginalisation and exclusion caused by limited access to health services, education and the labour market, thus limiting their social participation.
• Inappropriate architecture and urban design making access to services and facilities difficult.
• Obstacles to accessing public transport thus limiting mobility.
• Social prejudice leading to a lack of opportunity.
These factors together set people with a disability in a vicious circle of poverty which they find it difficult to break out of.

Officially the Peruvian state recognises the rights to people with a disability, but there are very few resources available for the implementation of legislation in this terrain. Self-help organisations for disabled people are therefore essential for improving their social and economic situation. Possibilities in the Peruvian context lie primarily in the informal sector where an estimated 70% of the working population earns a living. The informal sector is for many people the only possibility they have to earn an income. Support to small businesses and help in accessing microcredit have proven to be effective methods of poverty alleviation. Research has also shown, however, that people with a disability find it difficult to fulfil the criteria necessary to make use of microcredit. Microfinance organisations generally do not have special programmes for this group.

A made-to-measure project aimed at income generation via the setting up of small businesses and creating access to microcredit is essential if the cycle of isolation and poverty in which people with a disability find themselves is to be broken. In addition, because not everyone is an entrepreneur, a labour mediation project is also important.

Current status

Fund raising and preparatory phase.

Part A
Awareness campaign: August 2012-July 2014
• Forum, conference, 10 information meetings in the region.
• PR materials and activities.
Advocacy: August 2012-July 2014
• During the project, policy makers, politicians and representatives of civil society will be provided with information and advice about the economic and social participation of people with disabilities.
Recruitment and selection: August – December 2012
• Recruitment of participants and selection based on criteria.
Personal development plan: January-February 2013
• Programme for 50 participants, carried out by a specialised institute.
• Supervision of the participants during the programme.

Part B
Vocational training in entrepreneurship and mentoring: March 2013-July 2014
• Vocational training in entrepreneurship for 25 participants, developed and executed by a specialized training institute and organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce.
• Individual mentoring during and after the training programme to include, amongst other things, how to write a business plan, starting and running a business.
Microfinance: January-May 2013
• Approach microfinance institutions regarding the provision of microcredit to the target group.
• Criteria for the provision of microcredit will be formulated by the Microfinance Institution (MFI) with which a collaboration agreement will be developed.
• Organise an interactive Entrepreneurs Exchange Market for the purposes of matching.

Part C
Labour market mediation and counselling: March 2013-July 2014
• Workshops for 25 participants, carried out by a specialized institute.
• Approach companies and organisations (maximum 100).
• Support participants after they have found work.

25 people with a physical disability participate in the vocational training in entrepreneurship and 25 in the job counselling programme.
500 people from the target group and their families are informed about their rights and options regarding labour market participation.
20 self-help organisations for disabled people are actively involved in the project.
Generate support from and concrete agreements with government, businesses and social organizations regarding the labour market participation.

Goals

• 25 people with physical disability started own business
• 25 people have been assisted in finding paid employment
• 500 disabled people have attended information meetings.
• Concrete agreements made with government and 15 companies
• Micro financing programme set up for the target audience.

This is a pilot project during which a first group of people with a disability will be trained and mentored to earn an independent income either by setting up their own small company with access to microcredit or in paid employment.

The project also involves policy advocacy to persuade the Peruvian government to take responsibility for people with a disability.

Successful completion of this pilot will make it easier for other national and international organizations to gain support for future projects.

EMSOLAM is going to submit requests for financial assistance to local and regional authorities, including submitting project proposals to the Presupuesto Participativo Regional: this is a regional advisory body for the financing of social projects which have been prioritised by civil society organisations. This year EMSOLAM will register as an active participant in de Presupuesto Participativo Regional 2013, enabling it to take part in discussions with local government and submit project proposals.