CHENNAI: Vignesh was actively distributing sweets to people at the Cheshire home in Thiruvanmiyur on Monday morning. It was his 15th birthday and he wanted it to be special.
“He has been isolated for over a year now. I hope this year, by learning new skills, his life will change,” said a teary-eyed R Mariammal, his mother. Like several other children at the home, Vignesh is mentally challenged. With hopes of providing him a better life, his mother brought him to the day care vocational facility started by Cheshire homes.
“The aim of this training project is to provide skill training and placements to the differently abled, so that they can enter the mainstream and eke out a living on their own,” said Maureen Hudson Murari, secretary of Cheshire Homes India. The home offers training facilities, but has been facing problems in getting adults placed, as most companies hire them either out of sympathy or provide inadequate pay.
“Few weeks back, a company had come to recruit physically challenged adults from our home, but they were willing to pay only `6,000 despite these boys being graduates with computer skills,” said Marimuthu, an official at the home. “While we have somehow managed to provide jobs to a few, we still need help to help the rest. We have been talking to several companies,” he said.
“Support from the State and corporate firms in helping them lead an independent and decent life would help a great deal,” he said. But apart from placement firms, experts feel that sensitivity of outsiders would help.
“When they go out to workplaces or to parks, they are either stared at or looked down with sympathy, which does no good. They are not given the importance or the credit they deserve,” said Maureen.
The day care facility is open for all. The training will include yoga, art, gardening, measuring and packing skills, making paper bags, basket weaving and more. They also offer a tailoring programme for the underprivileged families of such children. “There is no time-bound syllabus for this project. They can leave the moment they are ready. We wish to help and garner more support from everybody in making this a success,” she said.
For further details, contact Cheshire Homes India at 24571215.