Imagine if someone told you that you couldn’t go to college, that nobody would employ you because you didn’t have the skills for the workplace and that even if you were willing, all doors were shut to you for further training? Well for thousands of young adults in India with disabilities, this is the reality. Luckily there are some places that aim to fill this gap in the education system.

I’m Yvonne, a volunteer from England at the Latika Roy Foundation, a Dehradun based NGO dedicated to working with children and young adults with special needs. I divide my time between the Fundraising team and helping out at the College for Vocational Training (CVT). Growing up with my first cousin Sharon, who has Cerebral Palsy, the struggle for acceptance in society and independence is close to my heart.

CVT is a project of the Latika Roy Foundation, committed to giving young adults with disabilities, aged 14-21 years, the skills and support they need to make the transition between childhood and adulthood. By providing job training and life-management techniques specific to each trainee’s unique abilities, CVT makes it possible for them to become independent participants in Dehradun’s community.

Let me introduce you to Sakshi. At 19 years, she’s our senior most female trainee at CVT. Like most girls her age, Sakshi loves shopping, gossiping with her friends and bossing the boys about.

Today’s activity is a trip to the shops to buy essential supplies for the College and a treat for everyone. On this trip, Sakshi and her friends will practice the life skills of independent travel, responsibility, socialization, money concepts, building their self confidence and independence. This trip is girls only; the boys are back at college, training in candle making and gardening, amongst other activities. On other days, the boys will take similar trips, using Vikrams and buses to get to local shops and to the park, where they play cricket and football.

The shop is busy, so we all wait patiently in line. Everyone takes turns to choose a treat and one of Shakshi’s friends pays the shopkeeper, being sure to count the change. Once back at the College, we sit on the freshly cut lawn (thanks boys!) and share our treats. With Special Educator Shivani, we reflected on what we learnt, talked about the kind of store we visited and the products we can buy there. It was clear from the animated conversation and smiles all round, that the Trainees had enjoyed their outing and learnt a lot from the experience. For Trainees, independent travel, responsibility, money concepts and social skills become specific marketable job skills. As a volunteer, spending time with the staff and Trainees at CVT offers a fascinating and valuable insight into the field of special needs education. Their positive attitude and creativity is inspirational.

Every one of us has potential, a useful place in society and the right to education. Whilst entry to the workplace remains a challenge, CVT provides therapy and training to ensure optimum and holistic vocational skill development in young adults with special needs in Dehradun.

How can you help?
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• If you are a local employer, you could consider a CVT Trainee for work experience or an internship. Mrs Savita Thapliyal, Director CVT, would be happy to discuss the possibilities with you.
• You could help us fundraise
• Become a volunteer at CVT or one of our projects such as the Early Intervention Centre.