Livelihood options and life skills are essential for everyone, as they enable independence, help improve self-esteem and lead to a life of dignity and respect. For persons with disabilities, livelihood options become a challenge owing to discriminatory attitude and the lack of accessible transport and conducive infrastructure.
The VISHWAS Skill Development and Training Programme for adolescents and adults with disabilities includes both skill development for employment opportunities and life skills training for independent living. We collaborate with corporates and potential employers to encourage employment of persons with disabilities.
Life skills encourage independent living for our young adults with disabilities to enhance their quality of life and increase their contribution to the household. Activities such as block printing, bead work, laundry and cooking are part of the training. The entire group participates in sports, music,art and celebrations like National Days and festivals at VISHWAS.
Story of Change
He has won the first position in Special Olympics Bharat for Volleyball and Football at State level. He has recently started learning the Congo Drums among his new talent.
His mother is full of gratitude for the way Yashpal’s talent has been brought out by channelizing his energy. “The family which used to ignore and be harsh to him and her, are now all praises and proud of his laurels”, in her words.
Kshitij has been a part of VISHWAS since the beginning of his school journey. With guidance from Vishwas, he underwent some corrective surgeries for gait, due to cerebral palsy. He then went on to complete grade X and XII through NIOS. He got training in computers at our skill training centre.
Ishank, with mild intellectual disability trained in computers and hospitality. This soft spoken, very well-mannered young boy has been very keen to become self-reliant by taking up a job. Rohtash has locomotor disability due to polio. He has been working with us since 2015 in the tailoring unit. The discipline and hard work in this unit made him suitable for other jobs.
All the three of them have got employed in Mitti Café (a café run by PwDs). They are extremely happy with this new found self-reliance and financial independence. Ishank and Kshitij’s parents are proud of their accomplishments. For both Ishank and Kshitij and their parents, this was a dream coming true because of the nature of their disability. They have found a purpose in life. With unique abilities, they have not only become valued members of their workplaces but have also experienced empowerment.
