NGO “Händikäpp” is a non-profit organization that supports everyone’s right to be, live, decide and operate freely and independently. We currently have
55 members of different age, sex and disabilities. Over 50% of our members are disabled, mainly physically disabled, but we also have people with seeing problems, etc.
Active and socially aware disabled people and their friends founded “Händikäpp” in September 1994. They were sick of being at home and not being able to participate in society, travel, visit nightclubs. The name “Händikäpp” refers to the English word “Handicap” written in the way it sounds in Estonian.
On our logo there are two youngsters, one disabled with the stick and one non-disabled, together under the bright yellow sun and it is the indication that we are all human with different needs that can communicate, be friends and achieve everything if there is a will, belief, cooperation and we do it together.
We value very much our independence as an organization, also the idea of cooperating in the unanimous aim and putting aims above differences and disabilities. Therefore we unite people with and without disability as members.
Our main fields are developing and rendering personal assistance service, organizing local and international events to inform the public as well as disabled people about the existence of disabled people and all the possibilities that could be created for them if believed it’s possible. Therefore we organize annual canoe trips for disabled, also wheel-chair line-dance courses, youth exchanges, training courses. We actively communicate with the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs, local municipalities and umbrella organizations to improve the public awareness and improve the quality of legislations and decisions.
We also believe that differences, prejudices and misunderstanding can only be overcome by communication and good will. It is very important disabled children and youngsters have a possibility to study with same age non-disabled youngsters in a normal school rather than be home-schooled or put in special school, if possible. We see this as a basis of overcoming prejudices and integrating all people, assuring that everyone has equal opportunities to participate and communicate in a society. That is why we value all the initiatives of young people in our organization.
Due to our independence we have a project-based, voluntary sponsored financing, we also accept charity donations
For pictures of our youth exchanges, please see: http://belgia.handikapp.ee/album/
