Listed here are 5 NGOs which are upskilling the differently-abled for employability

For a long time, people with disabilities struggled to find a meaningful livelihood due to a lack of opportunities and social insecurities.

However, in recent years there have been many organizations strengthen their self-confidence and helping them overcome challenges so they can be part of the functional workforce. Many NGOs have tried to create training including the work dimension for people with disabilities.

SocialStory lists some of these organizations that train these people and, as far as they can, connect them to suitable jobs.

Diya Foundation

Image: Diya Foundation

Founded in 1999 by Maria S. Santamaria in Bengaluru, Diya Foundation aims to honor adults with disabilities by providing them with training and building support systems that raise awareness in the community.

One of the main focuses is the training of employability, in which personal social skills are imparted job-related Soft skills such as punctuality and regularity, specific professional skills and personal safety. It also focuses on a life skills training program that trains people with disabilities in personal hygiene, housekeeping, financial management, self-advocacy, health and wellbeing, and independent functional skills.

As part of career guidance, students are sent to apprenticeships after three years of viability and employability training to get a feel for what employers expect in the real world.

Apart from that, they also help them with training in assisted living, supported and competitive employment.

Activate academy

Image: Activate academy

The Enable Academy, based in Bengaluru, a subsidiary of Enable India, is an NGO that focuses on bridging the gap between people with disabilities and employers through them Trainer or enabler‘. With the academy’s resources, tools, training, support, and campaigns, they hope to create an inclusive society.

So far they have more than 600 including employers with more than 300 jobs and professions, over 250 resources and around 18 courses on board. The jobs are separately for different disabilities including visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical disability, autism, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, learning disability and others depending on their capabilities.

Sarthak Educational Trust

One of the training sessions at Sarthak

Founded in 2008 by Jitender Aggarwal, Delhi Sarthak Educational Trust is an organization that empowers this population through health, education, employment, vocational training, awareness raising, etc.

While more than 1,500 (early intervention) and 425 (including educational program) children with disabilities have been rehabilitated, the competence development centers have trained more than 20,000 people in sectors such as tourism, hospitality, organized retail and IT.

To date, over 150 job fairs have been held in 21 states, more than 60,000 people have registered in their database. According to the organization, around 20,000 people have been employed in companies and other sectors via these trade fairs and competence centers since 2014. Demand has also increased, with over 1,000 employers in various employment sectors.

Narayan Seva Sansthan (NSS)

Members of NSS Stitching Masks and Essentials.

Started in 1985 by Kailash Agarwal Manav, a Padma Shri awardee from Udaipur Narayan Seva Sansthan (NSS) initially focused on social services such as free treatment for poor people. However, in 1997 the organization started treating people with disabilities.

To make people with different skills economically independent and to become a functional part of society, NSS offers its members professional training without charging any fees. These programs include computer training, electronic device repairs, hardware and networking skills, home appliance repairs, sewing, and mobile device repair skills.

After successful completion of the program, the NGO provides students with basic toolkits for hardware and networks, repairs of mobile devices and devices, and sewing machines free of charge.

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled

Inauguration of the audiovisual library in collaboration with Amway

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled was founded in 1997 by Mahantesh GK in Bangalore. Since then, the NGO has been working in the areas of education, livelihood, environment, sport, art and culture, rehabilitation, and health and nutrition.

They have empowered the youth through their livelihood centers in major cities in India Disabilities and Disadvantaged for Employability. To date, they have trained over 15,789 youth in 13 Indian cities, and around 64 percent of that population have received internships in various sectors.

These training centers have a three-step process that includes mobilization, training and placement to improve their chances of finding a job. They offer specific training in a variety of areas such as hospitality, retail, and apparel Training in entrepreneurship, business and technical skills to enable them to work in BPOs and call centers.