195 deaf students complete vocational training course

One hundred and ninety-five young deaf adults recently passed a six-month vocational training course reports the International News (14/11/11).

The course, offered by the Deaf Reach Training Centres (DRTC) in association with the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Youth Development Programme (BBSYDP) lasted from April 2010 to October 2011.

The graduates from Karachi, Sukkur, and Hyderabad completed vocational courses in basic IT, stitching, and embroidery, English, Urdu, culinary arts, and teachers training, said a press release issued on Saturday.

The training programme has empowered young deaf adults to become knowledgeable, self-reliant, and diverse in their talents and abilities and provided them with the means to enter the job market and find gainful employment, thus improving their quality of life as well as having a positive impact on their communities.

The graduation ceremonies were held on Deaf Reach campuses in Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Karachi and were attended by the participants’ families, government officials and dignitaries from the Sindh government. Many of the attendees expressed their appreciation and admiration for the progress these deaf youths have made through this programme. It was a touching sight to see these students receive their certification amidst much applause from the attendees.

This is the second year running that Deaf Reach has collaborated with the Sindh
government’s BBSYDP programme to provide quality vocational training for young deaf adults. Previously, in 2009 – 2010, 100 deaf students graduated in the same programme and have had increasing success in finding gainful employment. Deaf Reach is one of the only two institutes for the disabled selected to participate in the BBYSDP.

Deaf Reach schools and training centres are run by FESF, a non-profit organisation operating in Pakistan since 1984 with the aim of enhancing the quality of life for all members of the community, especially those who are disadvantaged. Deaf Reach is the only school for the deaf in Pakistan with a branch network – having schools located in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Lahore, and a large new school upcoming in Tando Allahyar. They provide quality education to areas where education for the deaf is virtually non-existent.

Emphasis is placed on academic and vocational training, as well as assisting the older students to find gainful employment via the “Financial Inclusion and Micro-enterprise Programme.” Sign language and deaf awareness are taught on a regular basis to parents and family members of the children, as well as to hundreds of volunteers via the FESF Volunteer Training Programme.