Project Report
| Apr 20, 2021
A new place to support employment
By Karen Purdie | Project Leader
![Opening of the Vocational Centre]()
Opening of the Vocational Centre
April is once again a busy month for IRODA as we join others around the world in a month of raising awareness of autism and promoting greater acceptance in our society. One of the exciting events of this month has been opening a Centre for an inclusive vocational training program. The Centre will provide both sewing and culinary workshops. The sewing workshops have grown out of the MarayamKraft program, named after a girl with autism who, thanks to her mother and mentor has learnt to sew and embroider. The new Centre will allow MaryamKraft to grow and equip other young people with vocational skills.
IRODA has successfully established the Dar Yak Zamin Café, which employs young adults with disabilities. The culinary workshop located at the vocational training centre will be an extension of Dar Yak Zamin. It will allow a greater number of young people to receive training in culinary skills.
April is not only marks World Autism Awareness Month, but also another significant milestone in IRODA’s work with the opening of this much needed training centre. Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we expand the work in Tajikistan to support and equip children, young adults and families.
![Culinary skills training]()
Culinary skills training
Dec 21, 2020
Experiencing 'Free-DOM'
By Karen Purdie | Project Leader
![Learning skills for meal preparation]()
Learning skills for meal preparation
Despite all the ‘stops and starts’ of 2020, IRODA has been able to progress its work at ‘Free-DOM’. The beginning of 'Free-DOM' is an apartment set up to provide a location in which young people with disabilities can be supported to learn everyday life skills is up and running. 18 young adults have been engaging in an independent living program at ‘Free-DOM’, learning new skills and benefiting from doing this alongside other young adults and supportive IRODA staff. We look forward to 2021 when we hope to run two more programs and provide this important opportunity to other young adults.
The ‘Free-DOM’ (‘Dom’ being the Russian word for house) apartment is also being used on the weekend for respite care. Many families of young people with additional needs don’t have others around them who can help support their family member. This can put a significant strain on the family unit. Being able to offer respite for some of these families by using the ‘Free-DOM’ apartment has not only provided much-needed support for these families but has also given the young people opportunities to socialise with others outside of their family.
Looking forward to 2021 we hope to grow both the Independent Living Skills program and the respite services. Your on-going support means a lot to all at IRODA and will enable us to continue exciting ventures such as ‘Free-DOM’.
![Spending time together at 'Free-DOM']()
Spending time together at 'Free-DOM'
Aug 25, 2020
Re-opening the doors
By Karen Purdie | Project Leader
![Welcoming young people back into the centre]()
Welcoming young people back into the centre
2020 has brought many unexpected changes with the challenges of COVID19. IRODA has endeavoured to support families throughout these changes and through challenging circumstances. As restrictions have started to be eased IRODA has begun offering some services within the centre again. Over the years, the Developmental Program has provided an alternative to institutionalised care in government settings for children and young people with autism, intellectual disabilities and high support needs. Practical everyday life skills are taught in a supportive environment that meets individual needs. The period through which programs had to close was particularly stressful for the families of children who access the Developmental Program. IRODA staff have worked hard to put measures in place to be able to safely re-open this program and provide much needed in-person support to these young people, and respite for their families after the challenges of such a long time at home.
Thank you for your on-going support throughout the challenges of 2020. The generosity of individual people around the world has enabled us to respond to the needs of families in our community during these difficult times.
![So pleased to have you back!]()
So pleased to have you back!