Saaya Association Annual Report for 2022-2023.
Executive Summary
The Saaya Association is an Islamabad-based organization of People with Disabilities (PWDs) dedicated to promoting independent living, inclusive education, and social justice. During the 2022-2023 period, the organization focused on providing technical skills, psychosocial support, and advocacy to help PWDs lead autonomous lives. Key services included the provision of assistive devices, wheelchair maintenance workshops, computer training, and accessibility audits of public spaces in Islamabad.
Date-Wise List of Activities and Events
The following is a chronological list of major activities, seminars, and training sessions conducted by the Saaya Independent Living Center (ILC) during the reporting year:
July 2022
July 20-2022: Planning Meeting regarding Inclusion and Networking of women with Disabilities.
July 21-2022: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
July 25-29, 2022: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
July 30-2022: Session on Contemporary issues of Persons with Disabilities in Pakistan (Rozan, Islamabad).
August 2022
August 3-2022: Internship program for students from different Universities.
August 15-19, 2022: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
August 19-2022: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
August 22-26, 2022: Empowering PWDs Skills Training and Workshop on Workplace Inclusiveness.
August 29-31, 2022: Inaugural Ceremony: Workshop on Empowering PWDs through social skills.
September 2022
September 1-2022: Certificate Distribution Ceremony for University Interns.
September 6-2022: Experience Sharing by Women with Disabilities during Internship Program.
September 7-22, 2022: Flood Relief Camp (F-8 Islamabad).
September 13-2022: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
September 21-23, 2022: Session on Sensitivity & Inclusivity in Rights-Based Development Projects.
September 26-30, 2022: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
October 2022
October 4-2022: Wheelchairs Distribution Ceremony (Multan).
October 12-2022: Mehfil-e-Milad.
October 17-21, 2022: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
October 19-2022: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
October 27-2022: Saaya Team visit to Khyber TV for World Polio Day.
November 2022
November 7-11, 2022: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
November 17-2022: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
December 2022
December 1-2022: Celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Islamabad Club).
December 2-2022: Development Opportunities for youth with disabilities (Fatima Jinnah Women University).
December 3-2022: Seminar on International Day of PWDs: Transformative solutions for inclusive development (COMSATS).
December 9-2022: Seminar on International Day of PWDs (CUST University).
December 12-16, 2022: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
December 21-2022: Project Anniversary: “Daring not Deprived” disability awareness (NUMS University).
December 27-2022: Seminar on International Day of PWDs (NUMS University).
December 30-2022: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
January 2023
January 3-2023: Visit by Rural Education and Economic Development Society.
January 11-2023: Training on Sensitivity and Inclusivity of PWDs (organized by AAR Japan).
January 11-2023: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
January 12-2023: Outreach activity for parents and children with disabilities (Islamabad).
January 17-18, 2023: Participation in CBID National Conference 2023.
January 23-27, 2023: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
February 2023
February 14-2023: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
February 20-24, 2023: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
March 2023
March 8-2023: International Women’s Day Celebration (McDonald’s, Islamabad).
March 13-17, 2023: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
March 20-2023: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
March 21-2023: Training on Understanding Disabilities and Personal Hygiene (Haripur).
April 2023
April 10-2023: Iftar Party.
April 10-14, 2023: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
April 17-2023: Food Distribution Ceremony.
April 18-2023: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
April 27-2023: Meeting with Representatives of different Organizations.
May 2023
May 3-2023: Seminar on Inclusive Education with Federal Government (Zoha Institute, Rawalpindi).
May 8-12, 2023: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
May 18-2023: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
June 2023
June 1-2023: Annual Wheelchairs Distribution Ceremony (Margala Hotel, Islamabad).
June 13-2023: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
June 19-23, 2023: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
June 19-2023: Visit of community mobilizing staff from CBR/CBID ALP project.
June 20-2023: Seminar on Sensitivity and Inclusivity in Right-based Development (Fatima Jinnah University).
June 22-24, 2023: Three Days Training on Institution Capacity Building (Sightsavers Pakistan).
Annual Report Year 2021-2022.
General Summary
The Saaya Association is an Islamabad-based organization (registered as VSWA/ICT/562) dedicated to the empowerment and social inclusion of People with Disabilities (PWDs). The report details their efforts to promote independent living, inclusive education, and access to justice. Key highlights include the operation of the Saaya Centre for Independent Living, which provides technical training (computer skills, wheelchair maintenance), psychosocial counseling, and assistive devices. Major accomplishments for the year included accessibility audits of public infrastructure in Islamabad, organizing sports events like the Wheelchair Marathon, and conducting numerous 5-day internship programs to help disabled students integrate into society.
Chronological List of Events and Activities (July 2021 – June 2022)
The following list is compiled from the detailed activity tables provided on page 11 of the report.
July 2021
July 10: Accessibility Audit at Centaurus Mall.
July 12: Internship Program on Disability for students from FJWU.
July 12–16: 5-Day Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
July 14: Session on rights and social inclusion of women with disabilities.
July 14: Counseling sessions on “Adolescent Health & Hygiene Issues” for women with disabilities.
July 27: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
August 2021
August 1–4: Sport Festival at Jinnah Stadium.
August 9–13: 5-Day Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
August 14: Wheelchair Distribution Ceremony at Kotli Sattian.
August 15: Accessibility Audit at Allama Iqbal Open University.
August 24: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
August 26: Covid Vaccine Medical Camp.
August 26: Cooking session for women with disabilities.
August 28: Session on Social Inclusion and Rights of women with disabilities.
September 2021
September 6: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
September 6: Session on rights and social women’s empowerment.
September 6–10: 5-Day Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
September 17: Monthly MPR (Management Planning Review) with HANDS Pakistan.
October 2021
October 7: Wheelchair Distribution Ceremony.
October 8: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
October 11–15: 5-Day Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
November 2021
November 7: World Polio Day inclusive cricket match.
November 11–15: 5-Day Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
November 17: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
December 2021
December 3: Seminar on International Day of Persons with Disabilities (COMSATS University).
December 3: Wheelchair distribution ceremony (Boys Scouts Association).
December 10: Wheelchair Distribution Ceremony at Sheikhupura.
December 13–17: 5-Day Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
December 15: Seminar to observe International Day of PWDs at FJWU University.
December 15: MOU signing ceremony at FJWU University.
December 17: Wheelchair Distribution ceremony at Celebration Hotel.
December 23: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
January 2022
January 24: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
January 24–28: 5-Day Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
February 2022
February 10: MPR with HANDS Pakistan.
February 18: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
February 21–25: 5-Day Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
March 2022
March 8–21: Islamabad Wheelchair Marathon 2022 (F-9 Park).
March 8–21: Observance of International Women’s Day at McDonald’s F-10.
March 14–18: 5-Day Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
March 15: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
March 21: Wheelchair Distribution ceremony at Muzaffargarh.
March 22: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
April 2022
April 11–15: 5-Day Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
April 20: Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
April 25: Iftar Dinner.
May 2022
May 16: Session with Group of Visually Impaired in Right-based development process.
May 16–20: 5-Day Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
May 30: Wheelchair Distribution Ceremony at Margala Hotel, Islamabad.
May 31: One-Day Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
June 2022
June 13: One-Day Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
June 17: Session on Sensitivity & Inclusivity of PWDs in Kotli Satian.
June 20–24: 5-Day Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
June 21: Dialogue on Economic Empowerment of Women with Disabilities (CHIP House).
June 21: Meeting with patrolling officers of National Highway & Motorway.
June 24: Meeting with AAR Japan Team.
June 28: Session with (AAR Japan) Teachers and Children with disability from KPK.
June 28: Training session for AAR Japan Team on Sensitivity & Inclusivity (Hill View Hotel).
Annual Report (July 2019 – June 2020)
Executive Summary
The Saaya Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting People with Disabilities (PWDs) to achieve independence and social inclusion. Supported by HANDS Pakistan, the association focuses on independent living, inclusive education, and access to justice.
Chronological List of Activities & Events
July 2019
July 8–12: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
July 15: Distribution of customized wheelchairs at Parliament House (by Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal).
July 29: One-Day Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
August 2019
August 7: Annual Wheelchair Distribution at Hotel Pak Continental.
August 19–23: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
August 23: One-Day Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
September 2019
September 18: Visits from SLF, New Sahara, and Sightsavers.
September 20–24: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
September 23: Participation in Sightsavers Global Campaign for Disability Rights.
September 26: Workshop on Mapping National-Level DPOs (organized by Handicapped International).
September 30: One-Day Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
October 2019
October 2: Accessibility Audit at Aakari Bank, I-9 Branch.
October 8: One-Day Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
October 14–18: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
October 15–17: Participation in the 12th Annual Rural Women Conference at Lok Virsa.
October 21–22: Seminar: “Mindset from Charity to Investment among PWDs.”
October 25: Dedicated Counseling Sessions (separate sessions for women and men with disabilities).
November 2019
November 4: Participation in the 2nd Khadija Tul Kubra Award 2019.
November 11–15: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
November 28: One-Day Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
December 2019
December 3–5: Training workshop on inclusive sexual and reproductive health.
December 4: Seminar on International Disability Day at Fatima Jinnah University, Rawalpindi.
December 5: Seminar on International Disability Day at Pakistan Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences (PIRS).
December 10: One-Day Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
December 23–27: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
January 2020
January 9: Islamabad HANDI Marathon at F-10.
January 16: One-Day Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
January 27–31: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
February 2020
February 10–14: 5 Days Internship Program on Coherent Capacity Development.
February 12: Seminar on “Understanding Disability & Independent Living” at NUST University.
February 20: One-Day Awareness Session on Disability & Independent Living.
February 24: Press Conference on ICT Bill and Legislation at Press Club Islamabad.
February 27: Received SAWARA Award at NARC Islamabad.
March 2020
March 4: Observance of International Women’s Day at COMSATS University.
March 7: Book Launching Ceremony at NISE Islamabad.
April – May 2020 (COVID-19 Relief Phase)
April 1, 3, 7, 14, 17, 30: Successive rounds of Food Pack Distribution among persons with disabilities.
May 20: Continued Food Pack Distribution to PWDs during the lockdown.