In late 2007, BG Group Libya (BGL) approached DSi in respect of the Libyan Down Syndrome Association (LDSA), a non-governmental, membership led organisation originally started by a few parents of children with Down syndrome, with the core philosophy of a belief in the right to a fulfilling life for all people with Down syndrome. BGL already provided support to LDSA and asked DSi to review the organisation’s status and activities, to conduct a needs analysis and to implement recommendations in co-operation with LDSA and BGL.
In May 2008, 2 DSi Board members undertook a 4 day visit to Libya to meet BGL and LDSA, carrying out an initial needs analysis and then reporting their findings to the DSi Board. Then in early 2009, a team of 5 specialists from DSi returned to Libya to meet BGL and LDSA. The team initially delivered workshops on various disciplines and then, following feedback from LDSA and lengthy discussions with all the stakeholders, undertook more bespoke presentations to meet the needs of the people in attendance. Please click on the link for further details of the Site Visits 2008/9 in Libya.
On their return from Libya, the DSi team put together a detailed report setting out a number of Key Recommendations for LDSA, aimed at building on the good work that they had already done and ensuring that they can develop into a robust and informed organisation in the future, providing sound advice and assistance to people with Down syndrome, their families and all other people in Libya with an interest in Down syndrome.
The visit proved to be very thought provoking, and significant knowledge and learning was communicated between all the parties in attendance. The DSi team felt that they learnt a lot from the experience and this helped greatly in producing the recommendations for LDSA and BGL to continue their progress.
A sincere Thank You must go to BG Group Libya, without whom this collaboration would not have been possible, and also to the Libyan Down Syndrome Association for their generous welcome, hospitality and willingness to share ideas and experiences with our team, thereby making great advances in their work with people with Down syndrome.
