Enabled to Enable: How NGO is changing narrative for PwDs in Cross River state

The Swedish organization Forum Skill works to address labor market exclusion for immigrants and people with disabilities and immigrants, providing workplace-based Swedish language training programs and hands-on work experience outside of a traditional classroom that helps prepare participants to be successful in the workplace.

When adults want to return to school, they face many challenges including the experience of long waitlists for classes, and poor relevance to the job skills they need for future employment. The Washington state community college system has started a program known as Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) that instead teaches in two parts: academic content and basic soft skills.

Nonprofits like L'Arche Boston North are using food service education, job coaching, and mentoring to connect adults with intellectual disabilities to meaningful employment. At least 30 graduates of the now-closing Breaking Grounds Café have gone on to work in food service, and multiple L'Arche participants have secured jobs in the industry.

“Grow your own” programs, like Reach University’s, are working to address teacher shortages, particularly in rural areas, by recruiting school employees who don’t have college or education degrees and giving them a chance to earn an undergraduate degree in education at just $75 a month. Participants take courses online and take 15 hours out of their work week to spend time observing and training in classrooms. So far 84% of all parishes across the state have signed up to take Reach trainees, which could put a significant dent in the statewide teacher vacancy issue.

The Afolabi Abdulakeem Faisol (AAF) Academy connects with prospective students via WhatsApp and teaches them graphic design and video editing skills as a way to earn money. Since 2021, the Academy has held seven educational boot camps, teaching thousands of people across several countries.

The Springs Rescue Mission is a homeless shelter that provides care and resources from food and shelter to job and skill training. The Springs Rescue Mission, alongside similar local groups, has reduced homelessness in the area by 50% and 30% of those who go through the program’s job training leave with the skills necessary to get a job and live independently.

In Kansas City, the nonprofit Pawsperity trains parents facing financial instability to groom dogs. Students of the program learn the basics of dog grooming four days a week and like skills one day each week to help break the cycle of poverty and prepare them for a job in the field.

Sightsavers is an international organization that focuses on the prevention of avoidable blindness and the promotion of equality for people with visual impairments and other disabilities in the workforce through its Inclusion Works project. Since its inception in 2020, Sightsavers has helped more than 200 individuals with visual impairments transition into new employment.

The Peniel Foundation virtually connects people with disabilities with mentors to help them learn to achieve their goals, level up their career skills to access to better jobs and become financially independent. Since forming, the foundation has seen thousands join the program and go on to have great success in their careers and personal lives.

Facing social stigma as well as other effects of being incarcerated, Philabundance Community Kitchen is using culinary education to provide much needed services to those formerly incarcerated. Via cooking classes and other life skills classes, this program has helped over 600 previously incarcerated Philadelphians attain employment in the culinary field.