Vocational placement programme held for differently-abled teenagers

West Bay Beach, in collaboration with HOPE Qatar Centre for Special Needs, conducted a vocational placement programme aimed at empowering differently-abled teenagers in the community.Six HOPE Qatar students, aged between 12 and 16, got the opportunity to explore various job roles including POS (Point of Sale), Security and Floor Supervision.The selected children who had varying challenges including Autism, Down Syndrome, and Learning Difficulties, were initially screened by the academic team at HOPE Qatar to determine their vocational interests and capabilities after which they underwent counselling and preparation to take on their new roles at the West Bay Beach facilities.In close co-ordination with the two teams, job coaches were identified and sensitised to the unique needs of the teenagers who would be sent for placement. After a careful review of the safety and security arrangements for each child, the programme was implemented."The primary objective was to facilitate the integration of differently-abled teenagers into society by fostering a sense of belonging and promoting diversity,” said Aidana Saparbaeva, project manager of West Bay Beach. "By engaging them in meaningful work experiences, the programme aimed to enhance their social skills, boost their confidence, and nurture a sense of teamwork and community acceptance” she added.The vocational programme lasting a full month saw the students being arranged in two groups, each spending two weeks in their respective job roles. The participants were offered part-time employment and received their first monetary compensation for their contributions."Throughout the programme, the differently-abled teenagers were guided and supported by dedicated mentors and trainers who provided them with the necessary skills and guidance to excel in their assigned roles,” said Zainab Idrissi, public relations and communications specialist of West Bay Beach. "This holistic approach ensured that the participants received both practical job training and emotional support” she added."Vocational training and employability skill development programme is of high priority at HOPE Qatar Centre for Special Needs especially because we have a large number of students in the teenage and young adult age group,” said founder and managing director Dr Rajeev Thomas."Unfortunately, many potential employers for individuals with intellectual challenges in this age group and older are still reluctant to provide the opportunity and chance for such youngsters to enter the job front. It is our mission to partner with willing companies such as West Bay Beach and others to try to create a paradigm shift in how these very valuable segments of the employable pool are viewed. This is a very significant effort in support of the Qatar National Vision’s Human Development Pillar” he added.Speaking about the experience, Romanian national Valentin Florin Galatanu whose son Stefan David Galatanu, a HOPE Qatar student placed at West Bay Beach said his son not only liked the experience, but felt both important and useful, and also made a lot of friends. His wife and Stefan's mother, Valentin, while thanking the organisers, lauded the initiative and wished that there would be more such opportunities in the future.Parents of the other participants, Kels Mouhammad Tariq, Domnic Wynne Incabo, Aditya Sidharth Navayath, Sadeem Tarek Ahmed, and Mohamed Omran, all HOPE Qatar students, were unanimous in their appreciation for the opportunity, joy and the sense of achievement that their children had experienced during the vocational placement programme.At the conclusion of the programme, the teenagers were recognised for their achievements and dedication. Apart from their first financial compensation, each participant also received a personalised letter of recommendation and a certificate of appreciation, acknowledging their commitment and growth during their time in the vocational programme.But most importantly, they completed the programme with a sense of accomplishment and self-worth for having done something they had never done before in an actual work environment, dealing with customers and other colleagues.This collaboration between West Bay Beach and HOPE Qatar Centre for Special Needs has not only contributed to the personal and professional growth of these exceptional individuals but has also inspired hope and serves as a catalyst for more such social initiatives.