尼日利亚组织给残疾人提供培训

AS IT IS 2015-07-05 Nigerian Group Provides Training for People with Disability 尼日利亚组织给残疾人提供培训

In Nigeria, an estimated 20 million people have some kind of physical disability. They have physical problems that make it difficult to find work and hold a job. Some of the disabled end up on city streets, asking strangers for help. But in Kaduna State, a group of disabled men has been persuading others to get off the street by offering them new skills.

Our story begins outside the offices of a local charity. A group of men who are physically¹ disabled wait there for food from the aid group. It may be the only meal they get that day. Because the men are disabled, most depend on begging in the streets to support themselves.

Aliyu Yakubu is unlike those men. He is learning job skills to earn a living wage. He is being shown how to fix tricycles and do other metal work.

The 18-year-old remembers when he decided² to stop begging.

He says, “My former class prefect saw me begging on the street and didn’t recognize me. He gave me some money. When I stretched my hand out to collect it, then he saw my face.  I felt ashamed, and since then, I decided not to beg again.”

Isiaka Maaji is also physically disabled. He helps people like Aliyu Yakubu get work, and get off the streets. He teaches them a trade.

He learned his skills from a government-operated training program. The program has been teaching vocational³ work since 2002. Five years ago, Mr. Maaji started helping⁴ other disabled people to stop begging.

He says, “We encourage people like us to learn skills they can do to become self-reliant to support themselves and their families because being in the streets as beggars is a disgrace⁵ to all of us.

To date, he has helped and trained 30 people. Some of them even have their own metal-working businesses now. They make tricycles and motor bikes designed for handicapped⁶ individuals. But that is not all they make. They also make doors and windows to sell.

Ridwan Abdillahi is a member of the Handicapped Association and a business owner. He says the group is making good quality products, but people are not buying. He says he believes many people think goods made by the disabled are not as good as those made by others.

The disabled men waiting for a meal say this is one more barrier the disabled face. They say that with the help of the government and community, they will overcome it, by bringing people’s attention to their concerns.

 Words in This Story

disabled – adj. having a physical or mental disability; unable to perform one or more natural activities

beg – v. to ask people for money or food

tricycle – n. a three-wheeled vehicle that people ride

vocational – adj. relating to special skills or training one needs for a job

disgrace – n. a loss of respect because of one’s actions or behavior

1 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 vocational   

adj.职业的，业务的

参考例句：

• They have set a regular time for vocational study.他们把业务学习时间固定下来。
• She was given some quick training at the vocational school.她在职业学校受过速成训练。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 disgrace   

n.耻辱，不光彩，丢脸的人（或事）；vt.使丢脸

参考例句：

• You will bring disgrace on yourself by doing this.你这样做会给自己带来耻辱。
• He is a disgrace to our school.他是我们学校的耻辱。

6 handicapped   

a.残疾的，有智力缺陷的

参考例句：

• a visually handicapped child 弱视儿童
• mentally and physically handicapped 身心俱残