How can a festival like Navaratri increase capacities of less-abled young people?
V-Excel Educational Trust, with a base in R A Puram, has tapped into this celebration in a unique way.
Its Youth Empowerment Services, Mylapore, is one of the vocational training centres under the V-Excel umbrella.
This where a team provides vocational skill development and livelihood opportunities to young adults with intellectual and cognitive disabilities.
Explains Gayathri Suryanarayanan, who heads the YES unit, “Celebrations and festivals are an integral part of our programme as these events help our trainees build on their social and communication skills. This also gives them opportunities to interact with people, work as a team and be a contributing member.”
The Navratri kolu this season went up on day one of the festival at Youth Empowerment Services.
During Navratri, every day there is group chanting / singing and sundal is also offered. A grand puja is held on Vijayadasami day. During the season, parents, well-wishers and other NGOs are invited here for thamboolam.
YES trainees are made an integral part of all the Navaratri activities, says Gayathri.
Youth Empowerment Services is at 90, Luz Church Road (next to Chennai Meenakshi Multi-speciality Hospital)
– This report is based on communication from V-Excel.
