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Skill Development Training & Livelihood
‘The Skill Development and Livelihood Program’ was initiated by Seva in Action, with an aim to empower adolescents & young adults with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDDs) obtain gainful employment and have access to meaningful livelihood opportunities. The need for ‘Skill Training and Development’ aroused when young adolescents who passed out from special schools after completion of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) were found to be unengaged and often facing challenges in finding employment. Parents seemed to be confounded with uncertainness and were anxious about their child’s future.
The ‘Skill Development and Livelihood Program’ has been designed by Seva-in-Action to support adolescents with IDDs in making the transition from a school environment to a work-place environment and become as independent as possible. One of the main goals is to also enable young adults with IDDs in finding open-employment and to help engage in meaningful livelihood opportunities, including entrepreneurship.
SiA runs Skill Development and Livelihood Program for the age group of 16yrs – 30yrs. The program offers support skills for the protective market and open-market based on the capacities and potentials of the trainees. A vital part of the program is ‘Personality Development and Soft Skill Training’ along with exposure visits, excursions, adventure camps which are organised on a regular basis. It also provides training on ‘Self-Advocacy and Communication’ skills.
| Offered Trainings | Duration | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Prevocational Training | ½ Year | 16 – 20 yrs |
| Retail | 6 months | 18 – 25 yrs |
| F&B Services (Hospitality) | 6 months | 18 – 25 yrs |
| Digitization | 3 months | 18 – 25 yrs |
Seva-in-Action had a great experience in doing the open placement for adult with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Star Bazaar & D-Mart (Retail Sector), Café Coffee Day (CCD) hub technology (Assembly Work) with lot of challenges & it is a good model for others. Seva-in-Action is part of Mission1000 Campaign with Enable India and in the working committee. Before placing them in the open market, in house & on the job training is given to adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities.
Learnings of SiA:
Parents who stay nearby approached the management of Seva-in-Action and
appealed to start some pre-vocational training for their wards with intellectual
& developmental disabilities as they were idle at home after completion of
their special schooling. This was the beginning for SiA to start pre-vocational
training named as Kalika for a small group with the support of Spastics Society
of Karnataka & Phillips came forward to provide small stipend for the trainees.
After acquired the skills by PWIDDs and number of trainees increased,
gradually started the small production unit named as Rachana. In the
production unit, trained adults started making eco-friendly products viz.,
different size & types of paper bags, cloth bags, corporate gifts, terracotta
crafts, jute mats, stationery items, jewellery & candles & Diyas. The marketing
of these products done through exhibition cum sale during Dashera, Diwali &
Christmas time in MNC’s office premises.
Gradually, SiA started Skill Development training for AWIDDs in different
domains and tried to place them in open market. This specific skill
development training enabled them to become confident, independent and
contributing members in the society.
Impact:
Pre-vocational and Skill Development training changed the lives of persons
with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities. They gained confident as they
acquired specific skills for job opportunities & their parents were happy for
their wards working in various domains. The PWIDDs who are economically
independent are becoming the contributing member of their family. The
Society gradually including and giving opportunities for PWIDDs in their work
space.
