» inspiring

Staff Benda Billini – Congolese paraplegic rockers

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:32:17 +0000

Questions in the Air: with the Douglas Bader Foundation

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:15:42 +0000

The Douglas Bader Foundation is a charity organisation, formed in honour of Sir Douglas Bader in 1982 by family and friends, many of whom had flown side by side with Douglas during World War 2. Douglas was honoured in 1976 with a Knighthood for his contribution and work on behalf of the disabled. The mission of the foundation is to continue Douglas’ work in conjunction with and on behalf of individuals with a disability.

FITA spoke to David Bickers, the Chairman of the organisation about Douglas and the work of the foundation.

Freedom Wing Walk : the movie

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:13:37 +0000

Thanks for Life : World largest Public health campaign

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:14:07 +0000

During my pilot training days, I felt alive and felt a sense of freedom, of being liberated. I started to have new dreams and visualise my future where I wanted to help change peoples lives, if not try and change the world. After reading about Freedom in the Air, Vivian Fiore from Rotary International’s office in Chicago found me and gave me the leadership that I was looking for in polio eradication. Using my skills, contacts and drive instilled from the music industry, I volunteered to support Rotary International’s campaign to eradicate Polio from India.

I was invited to go to India and take part in a National Immunization Day with Rotarians. This was going to be very special for me. Before leaving for India, I did as much research as possible as to what I should expect. For 20 years so many people have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to develop the immunization campaign. I would spend the time I had in India in Moradabad. This was where I took part in the eradication programme in Moradabad in Utter Pradesh, both on the static booth day and the house-to-house day. The following film captures my first experience in the world largest public health campaign.

I met with UNICEF, WHO, and the local government. It was completely overwhelming to understand the amazing work of the partner organizations. UNICEF who are experts at working with children, mobilise the foot soldiers. UNICEF also buys the vaccines, which WHO authorise. WHO, are amazing when it comes to global public health programmes. They have great strategies and an accurate surveillance system to track each polio case almost as immediately as they occur. I was privileged to have been invited to Geneva recently to sit in on WHO weekly polio meeting. I was in awe of how brilliantly they work and think. The UN, with it’s specialized agencies is a fantastic organization – not perfect of course – but fantastic. Things would be much worse without the UN, WHO, UNICEF and of course Rotary International.

Red Bull: Two became one

admin — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:19:29 +0000

Austrian Paul Steiner and his glider team Blanix have created flying history. At a height of more than 2000 metres, they performed a breathtaking stunt.

For more on Paul Steiner’s daredevil team, head to www.redbullskydiveteam.com.

Prantibhandi Village – Kolkata

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:04:38 +0000

Shri Kanti Ganguly, Minister in Charge Department of Sundarban Affairs, Sports and Youth Services Government of West Bengal has set up Prantibhandi Village. It is a small village of education facilities, nursing training, a garment factory – all to support and help young people and their families who have a wide range of disabilities. I was very proud to have been invited to speak at a rally to 15,000 people on 3rd December, the UN day to promote rights for people with disabilities. The event was organised by Shri Kanti Ganguly. It was one of the very few NGO’s in Kolkata that is run mostly by people who have disabilities.

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger interview

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:16:36 +0000

The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation’s oldest and largest public affairs forum, bringing together its more than 18,000 members for over 400 annual events on topics ranging across politics, culture, society and the economy.

A very interesting interview with Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger

Soaring Man

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:01:48 +0000

Suzi Duncan recieves Order of Australia in the Queens Birthday honours list.

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:05:20 +0000

We are very proud of our Patron, Suzi Duncan

Australian Queen’s Birthday Honours recipient Suzi said that revelation 19 years ago prompted her to want to share the experience with others.

She received this great honour for service to people with a disability, particularly through the Wheelies with Wings

program,and to the community. In 2003 she achieved her dream and founded Wheelies with Wings which has now helped 48 people with disabilities learn to fly in Australia.

In the Australian honours system appointments to the Order of Australia confer recognition for outstanding achievement and service. The Medal of the Order of Australia is awarded for service worthy of particular recognition. Recipients of the Order of Australia are from many fields of endeavour and all walks of life.

read the full article about her award in The Herald, Australia

FITA Press: Ridding the world of polio; BBC World Service

admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:15:19 +0000

The global fight to rid the world of polio, the largest public health programme in history, is said to be in its final stages.

Is eradication possible? Is it worth the enormous cost?

Newshour on the BBC World Service brought together public health experts with very different opinions to debate the issue.

Dr Bruce Aylward is director of the polio eradication programme of the World Health Organisation and Dr D.A. Henderson of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center led the WHO’s successful effort to eradicate smallpox.

Newshour also heard from Nigeria, one of the countries where the polio virus still thrives and from Gautam Lewis, a British pilot and a polio campaigner who suffered from polio as a young child in India. Gautam has spent the last few years assisting Rotary International in their vision for a polio free world.

Listen to the debate, courtesy of the BBC (25 mins 29 secs) / first broadcast 21 February 2009 ( we have added a slideshow to go along with the radio debate)

Click here for more BBC World Service news programmes