Sponsor skill-building workshops for the disabled

India has over 50 million physically and mentally disabled people. The challenge is that infrastructure is not compatible to the needs of the disabled and the vocational education system is such that adults with intellectual challenges have very few places to go where their potential to work and their right to a dignified, self dependent life is recognized.

Diya Foundation offers a Life Centered Career Education program that focuses on Life skills and Employablity skills geared towards independent/assisted living for the future.

The training offered is Daily Living Skills in the areas of Personal management, household management, financial management, personal social skills building; The Employability skills training encompasses training in the areas of Clerical, Retail, Housekeeping, Hospitality and Production - where 'hands on' training is provided in Chocolate making and wrapping, candle making/packaging, paper recycling; Gardening skills and Computer data entry/Multimedia training are also offered in addition to Work readiness skills and Occupational guidance.

We train 65 adults with intellectual challenges every year who, by the end of the training, are ready for either paid/unpaid productive work either at home or in the Community. Adults going through the training are self confident, self dependent adults who are looking to gain employment and maintain a living. We have to date, 18 adults placed in employment. Our next project is a pilot for independent living to teach adults with intellectual challenges real life time budgeting and practical living.