Job Prep Programme reducing unemployment amongst disabled
BARNOD’s Job Prep Programme, which is now in its fifth year, has seen 79 persons with varying disabilities being trained to date and fifteen being placed on internships.
This revelation came recently from Eudalie Wickham, 2nd Vice President of the Barbados National Organisation of the Disabled (BARNOD).
“This initiative started five years ago and each year, we try to build on the programme. We initially started with 35 participants in the programme and five persons were actually able to go out on internships. The resounding success of that first internship spoke volumes to how information was shared, not only with persons with disabilities, but vice versa, the employers…(and) it demonstrated that individuals with disabilities are capable of fulfilling their role within the workforce, being efficient and being competent,” Wickham commented during a press conference held on Friday in Scotiabank’s Conference Room in the CGI Tower in Warrens, St. Michael to announce the bank’s support of BARNOD’s Job Prep Programme
“So far we have been able to train 79 persons through the Job Prep Programme and we have had fifteen internships over the four year period. As I said, this is our fifth year and we are extremely pleased that Scotiabank has joined us to support this initiative, because it means that more persons with disabilities are able to be trained in preparing themselves for the world of work,” she added.
She meanwhile noted that 25 participants will soon undergo one week of job prep training and BARNOD’s hope is that at least 15 of the 25 will be put on placement, which allows for a six week stint at a place of business. She therefore expressed gratitude to Scotiabank, via its representative Dawn Jemmott-Lowe, Senior Manager, Staffing and Recruitment at the bank, for taking on four interns via its World of Work programme and she also expressed her gratitude to other employers, who will be taking on interns.
The trainees will be exposed to training in various areas such as preparing their CVs and resumes, work attire, developing a good work ethic, being a productive worker and how to effectively communicate, amongst other things.
Wickham stressed that whilst the economy is “tight” and BARNOD has to be realistic about what is available job wise for the disabled, she wants to see more workplaces reaching out to members of the disabled community and not just those who are between the ages of 18 and 25, since there are many persons who may be older, but who are desirous of contributing to national development, whilst also sustaining themselves.
“We have some of our members, some people with disabilities who are at age 35 and not had one single work experience, neither through an internship nor part time or full time employment. So this is what we are seeking to address,” Wickham pointed out. (RSM)