According to the Public Relations and International Affairs Department, Ahmad Meydari, Minister of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, emphasized the crucial role of public participation and community-centered approaches in rehabilitation and improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities. His remarks were delivered at the national ceremony marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, held today (Tuesday, December 1) with the presence of the President.
Meydari, referring to the wide range of activities undertaken by the State Welfare Organization of Iran, stated that while many initiatives are being implemented, the culture of philanthropy and social solidarity remains its most recognized feature—an ethos that enables the target population to experience better living conditions and reflects the essence of social cooperation. He stressed that persons with disabilities are not merely service recipients; they also engage actively in local groups to improve their own living conditions.
Highlighting the implementation of the neighborhood-centered program across 2,500 community centers nationwide, the minister noted that comparative studies among Iran, Malaysia, and Türkiye show that Iran possesses the largest community-based disability network—one built upon local cooperation and mutual support.
Citing examples of success stories, including the life journey of Ebrahim Soleimani, Meydari said that Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) can transform a person’s life when their needs are identified within their own neighborhood. Over recent decades, community groups supported by the Welfare Organization—especially in fields related to female-headed households, persons with disabilities, and mental health—have demonstrated how a neighborhood can serve as a platform for empowerment.
Meydari linked this approach to the neighborhood-oriented policies of the 14th Government, stating: “We aim to strengthen public participation starting from the lowest level—the neighborhood—just as similar models have proven successful in the Basij.”
He identified the first step in advancing this transformation as recognizing and strengthening grassroots groups active within the Welfare Organization, the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation, and the Red Crescent Society.
The minister added that, over the past year, successful examples of these groups have been documented and are ready to be introduced to the public to help scale up neighborhood-based models at the national level.
Meydari concluded by stating that all transformation begins with a shift in perspective: “Unless we truly believe in people’s capacities and view neighborhoods as the nucleus of social capability, we cannot achieve major change. What you saw today at the Welfare Organization was only a small part of this potential.”
The ceremony marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities was held with the presence of the President at the Summit Hall.
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