(Photos on Facebook) Global Rainbow Foundation in collaboration with the Society for Living Angels organized a MULTI SERVICES CAMP for intellectually disabled people, at the Sir James Burty David recreational centre, Pointe-Aux-Sables, which began from Saturday 2^nd March and ended on the 4^th of March 2013.

The founder of Global Rainbow Foundation, Mr. Armoogum Parsuramen and the founder of the Society for Living Angels, Miss Joylena Kistnasamy and some prominent Mauritians welcomed the participants from various parts of Mauritius and declared the event open.   Mr. Armoogum Parsuramen expressed his gratitude towards the Ministry of Social Security,National Solidarity and Reform Institutions for having kindly made available the venue for the camp. 

The turnout of participants with intellectual disabilty was very impressive at the venue. There were participants from:

1.    Society for Living Angels

2.    Eastern Welfare Association for Disabled

3.    Anou Grandi

4.    Association pour les Handicapés de Malherbes and

5.    Joie de Vivre Universelle. 

Dr Chunnoo, a Plastic and Orthopaedic surgeon examined some of the participants to know what kind of medical assistance they might need to improve their health conditions.

This MULTI SERVICES CAMP was designed to offer a range of facilities such as:

·       eye care

·       medical and dental care

·       physiotherapy

·        occupational therapy

·        parental counselling

·        and sensitisation about social services in a very relaxing atmosphere.  

It also provided an opportunity for a screening to guide future actions towards improving the conditions and quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities.  In addition, Global Rainbow Foundation is just 1 year and some few months old, but its achievements within a year of existence, words cannot describe. One of its services to humanity is to ensure that people with disabilities are treated equally like normal people, and they should not be deprived of any basic human rights, as all men are equal in the sight of GOD.

The programme was open to everyone to contribute ideas to the development of people with disabilities in Mauritius. The participants also had good meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner during the camp.

On the second day of the event, the founder of Global Rainbow Foundation Mr. Armoogum Parsuramen and members of the Society for Living Angels, held a conference meeting with members of the Association of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Dentists and Medical Doctors.

 After the conference meeting an interactive session was also held to note the problems faced by people with intellectual disabilities. At the session some of the Parents and guardians were clamouring for a review of the Mauritian constitution which stipulates that a person with disability must be 15 years old, before he/she is entitled to benefit from the Social Security Welfare Payment Scheme in Mauritius. Other question been raised at the session was Transportation problems for people with disabilities. Most parents and guardians, complained bitterly about how much they spend on adapted transportation for their loved ones to get to various places in Mauritius, and they feel that the Government should reimburse what they have spent back to their purse. Some also urged the Mauritian Government to implement a disabled-friendly transportation system to carry people with disabilities around the Nation.

A film session on people living with disabilities was also held at the venue for the participants to discover the abilities of these people and realise the potential contribution that people with disabilities can make to the economy and society.

After dinner was held, there was a live band performance organised by the Ministry to entertain the participants. During a chat with some parents and guardians who accompanied their loved ones to the event they said “we wish this happens every weekend”.

Mr. Armoogum Parsuramen has promised to ensure that more events on disabilities will be held before the year runs out. Global Rainbow Foundation and the Society for Living Angels convey their thanks to the specialist resource persons and everyone that has participated and supported this programme in one way or the other to make it a success.

By Independent News Service Wednesday 17th of October 2012

The chairman of the Global Rainbow Foundation (GRF), Armoogum Parsuramen and the representative of Microsoft, Caroline Kao Wing held a work session on the provision of laptops to children with special needs, teachers’ training on the island and abroad as well as on digital literacy and capacity building on Monday in Port Louis.

Parsuramen told The Independent, “The work session focused on how GRF and Microsoft can pool resources together to cater for the teachers’ training programmes of special needs children.”

He emphasised that GRF are very keen to work with Microsoft as a strategic partner to achieve their goal of inclusive education on the island.

The former Education minister and UNESCO director announced that UNESCO Paris will also be a partner in providing materials for teachers’ training in Information Technology and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between GRF and UNESCO Paris.

Speaking on the nature of discussion with Microsoft, he emphasised, “GRF is working on several projects and in tandem with Microsoft, we are looking to strengthen capacity-building for teachers’ training.”

He added that GRF will benefit immensely from the global co-operation with Microsoft and UNESCO.”

On the other hand, Microsoft representative, Caroline Kao Wing explained, “Microsoft and GRF complement each other very well in the field of education and capacity-building. 
I oversee corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and we are looking forward to co-operating with GRF on capacity building in education.”