People with Down syndrome face severe barriers to workforce inclusion. To address this, CSD provides 10 vocational scholarships for vulnerable youth in Bogota. In partnership with local universities, students complete 1,300 annual hours of campus training. Supported by a multidisciplinary team, they build competencies of being, knowing, and doing for administrative roles, preparing them for formal jobs while fostering everyday inclusion among 300 members of the university community.
Historically, educational and workforce inclusion has been severely restricted for individuals with Down syndrome. In Bogota (pop. 7.8M), over 31% of residents live in poverty, and over 80% of those with intellectual disabilities lack formal employment. While young adults from vulnerable communities have the potential to train and work, they lack the financial means to afford specialized adult vocational programs, making full scholarship support essential for their adult autonomy
For a person with Down syndrome, accessing vocational training transforms their life: moving from segregation to self-reliance, exercising their right to work and build a dignified adult life. This project addresses economic exclusion by providing vocational training scholarships to vulnerable youth, where they strengthen their competencies of being, knowing, and doing, opening real doors toward formal employment.
10 Direct Youth Beneficiaries: Receive a full scholarship covering their annual cycle of vocational training and university campus inclusion. 300 Indirect Beneficiaries on Campus: University students and staff interact daily with diversity, fostering empathetic and inclusive professionals for society. Formal Employment Placement: Prepares graduates to perform in qualified roles such as administrative assistants, human resources support, general services, and customer service within the corporate
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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