Improving the Livelihood and Social Inclusion of Youth with Special Needs

In conjunction with V-Excel Education Trust, Hexaware has undertaken a vocational training program to enable the inclusion of specially-abled young adults into society, says Dr. Vishwanath Joshi, Chief People Officer.

It is necessary to lend a helping hand to the underprivileged and at-risk youth by imparting skills, education, or entrepreneurship so they are gainfully employed. As one of the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, Hexaware’s Youth Empowerment Services (YES) has partnered with V-Excel to support such a Vocational Training Program. The program was tailored for young adults with special needs. The aim was to train and provide them with employment opportunities while paving the way for their social inclusion.

The Project:

The project is primarily being executed in the Chennai Metropolitan area in partnership with the V-Excel Education Trust. The target beneficiary group comprises young adults on the autism spectrum, and youngsters with intellectual and cognitive challenges aged 19 and above (also known as Persons with Disability). Typical timelines for the training period could range from 1 to 4 years, depending on the individual's capacity, capabilities, and choice of vocation.

After identifying suitable candidates for this program, an intensive vocational training program was initiated through V-Excel’s Kaleidoscope Learning Centers at various locations. Some students were imparted employable skills for open employment, while others were trained for self-employment. The project aimed to provide guidance and support as needed.

Partnership with V-Excel and KLC:

V-Excel Educational Trust is a registered Public Charitable Trust based in Chennai. The organization's objectives are to provide lifespan services, education, resources, and opportunities for social inclusion to individuals with special needs. Apart from the 4 centers in Chennai, V-Excel also has footprints in Nashik and Solapur in Maharashtra and Erode, Pollachi, Srirangam, and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.

This project was undertaken by Hexaware’s CSR teams in participation with V-Excel’s Kaleidoscope Learning Centre (KLC), which is a special school in Chennai, dedicated to serving children with developmental disabilities. The school invests in developing each student into independent, self-reliant, and confident human beings who appreciate their own gifts and talents and respect the world around them.

?The school follows the renowned Waldorf method to combine all elements of a child’s development: the intellectual, the artistic and the spiritual, together. The system recognizes that one size does not fit all and tailors these programs to an individual's abilities. The warm, non-judgmental home-like environment of acceptance helps these children develop skills appropriate to their developmental stage. KLC takes a creative and common-sense approach to pedagogy and imparts practical life skills and functional academics in an enjoyable, nurturing manner. The school’s approach also incorporates a mix of proven methodologies, with therapies, assessments, and support systems leading the students to full inclusion in society, independent living, self-determination, and employment.

?The Impact:

The key highlight of this CSR program is its impact on bringing individuals with special needs into the mainstream and improving their understanding and acceptance in society. With the combined objectives of providing a livelihood to people with special needs and improving their social inclusion, Hexaware's program has successfully placed 22 trainees in various industry sectors with different vocations. Among the recruiters, we have Hexaware Technologies, Baker's Cafe, Writer's Cafe, ITC Grand Chola, Buhari Resorts and Hotel Savera, to name a few. These trainees received an average monthly remuneration of Rs. 11,000 as their first paychecks.