In this picture, people with disabilities present a skit about their lives. Although most of the people participating in the event were simple, rural people with little education, they were quite vocal and willing to talk about their situations.
The Celebration The official day for celebrating the International Day for Persons with Disabilties every year is 3 December, and that is the day it was celebrated in Phnom Penh. Because of schedule conflicts, however, the celebration in the province of Kampong Chhnang was held on 9 December. Three of the staff members of DDP in Phnom Penh went to Kampong Chhnang to represent DDP. The morning celebration was planned by self-help groups of people with disabilities, supported by the Land Mine Disability Support NGO, with funding from AusAID. A multitude of government officials were on hand in the VIP section, but unfortunately the event was somewhat high-jacked by the officialdom which claimed responsibility for organizing and funding the celebration when the people with disabilities were the ones who actually made the day happen. As if that wasn't bad enough, the CPP (the ruling party) officials then gave out gifts to about 200 people with disabilities who attended. This is the way they politicize events and make sure they win elections.
	Officials giving out gifts from the CPP to various people with disabilities. The women received a $2 sarong and the men received a cash gift. The organizers had wanted to invite more people with disabilities but the officials limited the number who could attend because they had only a limited budget for gifts.
	These are the seven deaf students in the DDP education program in Kampong Chhnang. On the left is Horn Chhunlim, the project manager of the job training project, and on the right is Touch Sophy, the project assistant for the education project.
	After the morning's activities concluded, Charlie Dittmeier had a chance to talk to the DDP students.
	Sophy and Tashi Bradford, a sign language linguist at DDP, with some of the deaf students after the ceremony.
	Many people with disabilities were brought in from surrounding districts for this special day. Most of them have little recognition and few opportunities to celebrate like this.
	Trucks were used to haul people to the farther districts, but closer to the celebration site people with disabilities were transported by remarques like this one.
	The district office of Land Mine Disability Support which is a partner with DDP in the education project in Kampong Chhnang Province.
	On the way home, the DDP staff and Yi Dara, the director of LMDS, stopped for lunch.