By Faizan Polani | Program Manager
Dear Supporters,
As always, we are grateful for your continuous support, and appreciate your contributions to our cause. The past 3 months have been fruitful, allowing us to map out the future opportunities for our trainees, as well as potential trainees.
Our trainees successfully finished their computer-based textile designing and block printing course at our 4 partner schools, namely DEWA Institute of Special and Inclusive Education, Ida Rieu College for Blind and Deaf, Karachi School for Deaf, and Rehabilitation Centre for Physically Handicapped (RCPH). Over 100 trainees of different, even multiple, disabilities participated, and it was exciting to see their progress, and watch them learn a skill from scratch that made them feel confident and empowered.
To encourage the trainees on a feasible career path, in-house inclusive motivational sessions were organized. This time, for the last session in a series of 6, Shehzad Mahmood, management director of Reckitt Benckiser, graced our doors. It was a lively session, fueled by the enthusiasm of the trainees, who were more than eager to utilize their newfound skills in the working world.
The trainers also made sure to provide material and advice to the teachers and management at these schools so that they may be able to conduct these trainings in the future. The sessions concluded on exhibitions of the students’ artworks, and a certificate distribution ceremony organized at individual schools, where students and teachers shared their wonderful experiences from the training.
Impressed by the trainees’ impressive designs, we contacted professionals from the textile and fashion industry for feedback. The positive feedback was overwhelming, and encouraged us to develop portfolios for the students so that they may be used in the prospects of internship or further training opportunities, which we hope may allow the students to apply their skills in a professional setting, as well as, hone them further, aligned with market trends.
We have approached several textile houses and fashion brands for this purpose, and 3 of our trainees have already started a month-long internship on block printing at Koel, a leading fashion brand which specializes in the craft of block printing. These interns are being supervised by Koel employees, and are work on developing small products, such as cushion covers and wallets. At the end of this internship, the interns’ line of products will be put on exhibit, which we look forward to sharing with you together with their working experience.
Besides this internship, which is currently underway, we plan to organize internship and further training opportunities at other fashion houses for our talented trainees.
Additionally, for the next round of trainings, we are working on revising our existing modules of textile designing and block printing to make them more attuned to market demands, which we hope will make it easier for the trainees to assimilate into the work force after graduation. We have also added 5 new skillsets, namely MS Office, Web Design, Graphic Design, Carpentry, and Sewing, which we hope may pave the way for the students towards a fulfilling, and challenging career path. We also plan to expand our reach to include students with visual impairment in our trainings in the upcoming round of trainings.
Beneficiaries' and Supporters' Testimonials
‘I have been a student of fine arts and computers at DEWA, hence this training initiated at a very apt point, enhancing my learning. I particularly liked the computer training since I was able to pick up the concepts easily. The trainers were excellent." - Ahmad, Trainee at DEWA Institute of Special and Inclusive Education
"The computer based graphic design training is not only interesting but also useful in finding a good job ahead." - Owais, Trainee at Ida Rieu College for Blind and Deaf
"We are all born with certain strengths and weaknesses, and have the power to choose or make our own decisions, so don't say, 'This was my fate' because you can always make progress and will eventually be rewarded for it" - Mr. Shahzed, MD, Reckitt Benckiser (RB) Pakistan during our motivational session encouraging students to overcome the various challenges of life
We hope you support us in our new endeavors, and journey with us in our path towards a truly inclusive, empowered society.
- Team NOWPDP
By Zaynab Abedin | Associate - External Engagement
By Zaynab Abedin | Associate - External Engagement
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