Jobs for People w/disAbility Creates Independence

The young people who are in the Social Empolyment program celebrated their fourth annual Assembly The main presentation was on the Protection Policy  which FE has developed to insure that the person with a handicap is protected in a safe environment in the organization.  FE is finishing a three-year program  focusing on prevention of violence by recognizing the violence the person with a handicap faces in their daily life.  Many of the young people needed to learn to differentiate between peace and violence.  Because many of them live with violence as the norm in their lives. The discussion in the assembly centered on when is a person safe and when do they feel un-protected. 

The assemblies were started as activities to get feedback from these young people with disAbilties and their family on their experience of the social employment program and to recognize each one of them for their achievements.  Each young person is accompanied in their work by a God Mother or God Father who works in the same area and takes the time to help, orient and assist these young people with disAbilties as well as help in their social integration in the workplace.

Each young person received a certificate of participation in the social employment program for the year and they were accompanied by a family member. There was a lot of joy in the room as each person shared where they worked and a bit about their experience. There were over 6 different types of disAbilities represented by these young people who are striving to learn employment skills and to integrate in the work force.  Many of them work in one of the environmental programs or in the nutrition programs in Familias Especiales as well as in the Wheel chair workshop.

The young people also performed cultural activities such as dancing,and singing during the event.  It was a special time for all to share together and be affirmed. There was a large umbrella actually made by several of the young people to depict the concept of protection and they later posed under this umbrella to symbolize that they do feel a protection participating in this social employment program.