Hetty Blades

At the end of last week, the research team and VisAbility gathered again in Jaffna for the next round of workshops and fieldwork. Before the workshops started we carried out interviews with some of the participants who took part in the last workshop. We asked them about their experiences over the past five months and whether they have used the knowledge and confidence they reported at the end of the workshops. The results so far have been really positive. We heard how some participants have gained access to benefits and services that they were not aware of before the workshops. Some participants also reported increased mobility and a continuing reduction in pain.

We have now finished two days of the workshops, which combine new and returning participants. Those who did the workshops before have been leading some of the exercises and supporting the new people, which has created a focused and productive atmosphere. The workshop will lead to a new performance that is scheduled to take place in Jaffna on 21 December. VisAbility are continuing to develop and test different methodologies for combining mixed abled dance and human rights education.

Since VisAbility completed their coaching here in August, some members of the group have met periodically to prepare a performance. Whilst larger questions about sustainability are on all of our minds, it’s really encouraging to see that the group have continued to work together and we are looking forward to seeing them perform during the workshop tomorrow!