18 persons with disabilities graduate from vocational training centre

A class of 18 differently-abled students on Monday graduated from the Open Doors Centre for National Vocational Training. The graduation ceremony marked the successful completion of a two-year educational programme that was designed to assist these individuals as they were integrated into society.

The Open Doors Centre of National Vocational Training was established strictly to aid persons with disabilities through the support of Italian Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Amici di Raoul Follereau (AIFO). The main objective of this initiative is to provide opportunities for vocational education and skills training for persons who are differently abled. As such, the Open Doors Centre embarked on a one-year training programme, which was initiated in May 2001. However, the programme was revised in 2005, increasing its duration to two years so as to adequately improve the capacity of the beneficiaries in order to establish them as assets to Guyanese society.

As such, over the two years, the students were exposed to skills training which was divided into four different dimensions, including Language, Information Technology, Garment Construction and Craft as well as Electronics/Carpentry and Joinery. The curriculum was supplemented by core competencies, namely calculation and communication, social and entrepreneurial skills and sign language, among others. Extracurricular activities were also in the mix, via sports, to aid in the development of well-rounded individuals. At the commencement of the programme, 40 individuals of varying disabilities enrolled for the unique academic journey. The students ranged in age from 16 to 45 years old, with two being over 50 years of age. After completing the academic aspect as well as work attachments facilitated by the programme, 18 participants made it to the finish line and were honoured at the graduation ceremony on Monday.

On the honour roll were Ayana Marcus and Melisa Moses for their outstanding performance in Garment Construction and Craft while Marie Gonsalves and Joshua Smith were recognised for their accomplishments in the Information Technology course. However, Smith emerged as the overall best graduating student.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Manager and Principal of the Training Centre, Author Lewis congratulated the students on their accomplishments. Lewis also explained the objectives of the exceptional programme: “It is a known fact that persons with disabilities face enormous challenges in our society, across the world. They are perceived as helpless, unemployable, dependent objects of social welfare. They find it extremely difficult to access public transportation, building and public conveniences. They are woefully underqualified because of their poor educational background. The few who are able to acquire an average education are often denied promotion and in some cases, a decent job.”

Sharing similar sentiments was Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings, who commended the students as well as their well-wishers on their efforts to defy the odds. The Minister emphasised, “Education and skills training is for everyone, including the differently abled. Everyone has a right to an education that provides them with a goal and a purpose in life.”

As such, she expressed delight in the efforts made to ensure that these persons were given a fair chance at life.

Given the success of the vocational training programme, the Open Doors Centre is currently pursuing avenues of expansion to cater for the growing population of persons living with disabilities. The administration is hoping to increase the enrolment capacity to 60 persons, while introducing new courses such as food preparation and cosmetology to better provide for the interests and needs of these individuals.