Focus on strength...plan for need

 In 2004, our CEO Elaine Robb went to Cebu, Philippines, to assist Nonoy Concha to set up the CAPWD association. This was part of the Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) program.

Nonoy is an amazing man who works tirelessly to make a difference to the lives of people with disabilities in Cebu. Nonoy who is confined to a wheelchair, initiated a waste management business which now employs about 10 people with disabilities.

Nonoy believes in looking at what people can do, not what they can't. The business works in partnership with the local Barangay (council) to encourage the community to think about recycling.

Encompass will continue to support Elaine on this project and it is anticipated that she will visit the Philippines within the next 12 months to continue with her work there.                                                                    

Alan Robertson & Elaine Robb

In November 2006, one of our board members Alan Robertson, presented a paper at the Disability and Inclusion Conference in Mexico.

Alan is also a client of Encompass and has been assisted by the Board and the staff in his role as an advocate of people with disabilities in Australia.

After Mexico, Alan visited the United States and Canada and got to know different people and organisations that work with people with disabilities.

In 2007 and in partnership with the Gordon Institute, Encompass Community Services Inc opened its doors to allow an international student from Taiwan, Emily Chan, to undergo 8 weeks of work experience.

Emily worked for the first time in a corporate environment and built up her administration and marketing skills. She is now back at home in Taiwan and is happily working for a big local company.