Fostering family engagement for persons with disabilities in Mannar district
The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon took another initiative to fostering family engagement for persons with disabilities. Due to cultural barriers, family background and over protection by the parents, persons with disabilities find very difficult to be placed in employment.
The ILO (International LabourOrganisation) LEED (Local empowerment through Economic Development) project is being implemented by The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon since 2011. Now they are implementing the phase 4 of the project. Fostering family engagements workshops were done in Mulativu and in Kilinochchi districts few months ago.
In August 2015 persons with disabilities in Mannar district got the opportunity to develop their skills. The workshop was held at Mardap (Mannar District Differently Abled People) organization. The organization had all the accessibility features for persons with disabilities. That was the reason for the EFC team to decide on a barrier free venue like Mardap.
20 participants were selected along with one family member for this workshop. To give equal opportunities for people with diverse disabilities. Vision impaired, hearing impaired and persons with physical disabilities were involved in the workshop. Gender balance was also taken into consideration. The workshop had sign language interpretation throughout the workshop. Tamil translations were done by the EFC Project Manager for North, Mr. A. Kirushanthan.
The introduction to EFC Network on Disability was done by Ms. Sonali De Silva. Ms. ManiqueGunaratne did the presentation on “Importance of doing a job”.
Mr. Samantha, the Branch Manager of Singer Finance Ltd. Madawachchiya Shared his experience in employing persons with disabilities in their company.
EFC ICT trainees Mr. RangaSampath (vision impaired) who was placed in employment at Singer Finance Ltd. By EFC and Ms. ArumuganathanArthika (vision impaired) Assistant Manager CargillsVavuniya Branch who was also placed in employment by EFC, spoke about their experience in being gainfully employed. These two sessions had a very good impact on persons with disabilities who are seeking for employment and I am sure even the family members realized the importance of their child been employed.
Next was the session on how to write a proper CV and interview skills. The session was conducted by Ms. Sonali De Silva, Ms. Ayomi Fernando and Ms. ManiqueGunaratne from EFC. The role play made very interesting for the participants to learn the right skills to develop their confidence to face a job interview.
Participants enjoyed a delicious lunch and thereafter had an interactive session with a wife of an employee with a disability who spoke about the impact of having her husband earning, supporting the family and being a successful citizen in society.
A person with a physical disability spoke on what is expected from the parents and family, Disability Barriers – one showing how families
Can be a barrier to a person with a disability, even though they have good intentions at heart.
The session on “Changing mind set” was conducted by Ms. Sonali De Silva.
Workshops are a learning flat form for everyone. But this workshop had a difference. All participants including family members had to commit themselves by signing a pledge. The pledge had seven areas each person could commit themselves to work on. Each person committed to do one or more thing in the pledge. At the workshops held in Mulativu and Kilinochchi, the EFC team selected a winner who committed to do the most number of areas in the disability field. The winner was the District Service Officer from Mulativu, Mr. Thasarasan. The award was given to a representative from the Mulativu District Office by Ms. ManiqueGunaratne.
It was a happy end of a workshop with smiling faces where all took a photograph holding the pledge.
MardapOrganisation had a group of persons with disabilities who were making handicraft items. The EFC team bought a big box full of handicraft items to bring to Colombo to do a sales promotion for them.
Picture descriptions:
EFC trainees Arthika and Ranga sharing their experiences at the workshop.
Representative from the Mulativu District Office receiving the award for the pledge.
Family workshop group photograph.
Manique making a presentation on importance of doing a job.
Sonali making a presentation on EFC network on disability.
Participants of the workshop.
Branch Manager Singer Finance, Samantha making a presentation.
By:
ManiqueGunaratne
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