| In El Salvador, preparing the disabled for better jobs |
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Computer training and office orientation qualified 20 physically handicapped Salvadorans this summer to find better jobs—which most have already done. The training was made possible through a first-time public-private partnership arranged by USAID’s Improving Access to Employment project (managed by CARANA), and bringing together financial giant Citibank and a local rehabilitation organization called Fundación Teletón Pro Rehabilitación or FUNTER. Participants give their views on the program: Earlier this year, the Workforce Development Project approached Citibank with a proposal to link them with FUNTER, a well-established foundation working with disabled people in El Salvador since 1982—the first time a major employer there had joined forces to improve employability of the handicapped. Citibank and the Workforce Development Project co-financed the program, while FUNTER donated their instructors’ time, classrooms and equipment. The beneficiaries were unemployed people who had received rehabilitation treatment at FUNTER; most had no formal work experience. The training’s 100-hour curriculum included courses in touch typing, Word, Excel, Power Point, and internet use. The participants also attended a lecture on “Preparing for the World of Work,” which discussed necessary communication skills and customer service. Citibank personnel gave basic instruction on banking and finances. Post-training, Citibank is taking the lead in placing the beneficiaries in jobs, hiring 16 of the training graduates to fill full-time positions in its call center, cashier and customer service departments. The program’s work isn’t finished however. FUNTER supports participants during their integration to the work environment and holds talks with employees at the hiring companies to raise awareness and promote a positive work environment. The program will help more than 120 disabled persons in its the first year. The Workforce Development Project will generate new public-private alliances supporting the work placement of handicapped people in El Salvador, and advocate for disabled people’s right to formal employment, competitive compensation, and up-to-date professional training and orientation so they can apply for jobs on equal terms with the rest of the population Published October 2010 Share through your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
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