Being committed to serve its students in better ways, Arba Minch University’s Student Service and Resource Centre has formalized the long-standing collaboration with its partner - Arba Minch Rehabilitation Centre (AMRC) by inking a yearlong Memorandum of Understanding at Senate Hall, Main Campus on September 16, 2014. Click here to see Pictures.

Academic Affairs Vice President and President’s delegate Dr Agena Anjulo from AMU and General Manager, Mr Tafesse Churbo from AMRC signed the agreement in the presence of Administration & Development Vice President, Dr Yechale Kebede, Student Service Director, Dr Paulos Taddesse and Special Need case worker, Mr Zelalem.

Reiterating commitment to make this endeavor as the part of AMU’s annual plan, Dr Agena said, ‘‘We are serious to improve the lives of physically-challenged students by creating equal opportunity. And there is need to wipe out misunderstandings with regard to disabilities from the minds of every sections of the society.’’ He assured to replicate this initiative in all the campuses as and when required.

Purpose of this pact is to establish Disability Resource Centre, create awareness on disability and related issues, create user-friendly infrastructure and equal opportunity, provide material support i.e. wheel-chair, prosthesis and orthosis, Braille book, board, crutches and white canes etc.

Briefing the gathering Dr Paulos, said, ‘‘AMU is extremely happy to formalize partnership with AMRC. This MoU will enable us to establish Disability Resource Centre and to facilitate specialized services i.e. material and technical support to them.

However, we had Disabled Students’ Club to serve their interest by creating conducive and friendly environment, but with this we can hope to do much better for the welfare of physically-challenged students,’’ he assured.

AMRC General Manager, Mr Tafesse, expressing optimism, says, It is great to partner with AMU as it has huge infrastructure; and AMRC with its potential to provide awareness creation and rehabilitation assistive devices we can create equal opportunity and free participation of physically-challenged students and staff members for their development.

AMU and AMRC are bound to eradicate misunderstanding surrounding and stigma attached to disability by creating awareness amongst all classes,’’ he stressed.

MoU comes into effect from September 1, 2014, to September 30, 2015, which will be periodically renewed. It’s a non-binding that both parties have entered into in a good faith.

According to MoU, AMU would establish Disability Resource Centre, tailor-made infrastructure, provide financial support to vulnerable students, guide & counsel, and vigorously create awareness amongst AMU community.

AMRC would give technical support, training on awareness creation, distribute assistive devices, network with NGOs and different organizations to facilitate support to disabled students and staff and also organize experience-sharing program from time to time.

By Philips Joseph