Presently, majority of the vulnerable youth with special needs tends to withdraw from the society, hiding its talents and potential. Aiming to provide a job market to youth with visually impairments. Radio Vision Pakistan is a project initiated by Visionary Foundation Pakistan, for persons with visual impairments, in this online radio, RJ’s that will conduct the show will be persons with visual impairments. This unique project will open a new window of job opportunities for persons with visual impairments also play a very vital role in the mainstream of the society.
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Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Karachi
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
Like the rest of the world, the development sector of Pakistan has shifted its focus to
youth development, especially considering the fact that it comprises of the 65% of the total Pakistani population. Despite the fact that many programs are being designed and implemented for the capacity development and income generation of youth, so far not much has been done for the development of youth with special needs. There is a strong need to think about alternative solution for providing Jobs to Visually Impaired Community to include them in the main stream of the society. After facing lots of problems during the studies, at least they cope up with the problem and got education but after getting education there are very few jobs available in market for Visually Impaired person.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
Visionary Foundation Pakistan took an initiative to provide Visually Impaired youth a platform for interaction, exposure and learning.
Mainly they will use this online plate-forum to raise their voices against the discrimination of their community. RJ's will going to organize talk shows, group discussion, interview of prominent personalities etc.
What technologies and digital tools do you plan to use in the trainings?
Describe the connections that you or your organization have already established that will contribute to the success of the project.
Visionary Foundation Pakistan organized first ever Conference in the history of Pakistan by the name of “First Pakistan Blind Youth Conference”,. It was an effort to bring together the youth (with and without the gift of sight) and give them an opportunity to understand and learn from each others’ experiences. During the conference Visually Impaired Participant present their recommendation and in there recommendations, they want Information Technology to be used for improving the current status of Job Market.
So, we think on this point and lead these recommendations to a reality.
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
Initially we are targeting 5 Visually Impaired Youth to become RJ in this Online Radio and start their career. After going through a hands one trainings of using computer and internet they will be provided technical assistance in learning online radio technology. Initially they have to conduct 3 online program and after that they will be provided stipends of each program on the Radio.
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
As it is known that Visually Impaired People use JAWS / Narrator for interacting with Computers. First we will conduct a workshop with potential participant and give them idea about the Project, afterward Following Technologies, tools and media we will focus:
1. SAM Broad Caster (For Web Radio)
2. JAWS Software
3. Hands on Training
4. Voice Recorder based lectures
5. Experts Experience sharing
6. Social / Electronic and Print Media for getting viewers support.
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
Something else that sets us apart from just about every other organization is the fact our facilitators can do it all: we don't hire training deliverers and we don't have account managers. What we have is a group of dedicated people, all of whom are, Training Consultants in the business. They get involved in all aspects of the organization’s work, from marketing to developing the work itself and of course to delivering it.
We have 2 Laptops, A Broad Band Internet Connection having 3.1 MB Speed, with a peaceful and quite atmosphere, with ample furniture and fixture.
What is your current relationship with the community with whom you plan to work? What makes you the most appropriate individual or organization to implement this project?
Visionary Foundation Pakistan is in ground since 2009, with a mission to empower individuals and marginalized communities through provision of information and skills, promote rights based approach to development, empowerment of underprivileged and marginalized groups, particularly persons with disabilities.
VF PAKISTAN has already initiated its awareness campaigns against issues and problem of Visually Impaired society in Pakistan. One of the major step taken by organizing first ever conference in the history of Pakistan, specifically for Visually Impaired youth's Issues and Problems. Our strong and effective media presence makes us apart from several other organization working in this field.
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
Following challenges we expect in our Project:
Employment related problems.
Widespread unemployment in the visually impaired community, it is anticipated that after starting it we will be in contact with several other Educated Visually Impaired Youth, that will be frustrating initially for not involving majority of people.
Problems in commuting.
Lack of awareness in community.
Problems in social acceptance.
There is a widespread perception that visually impaired individuals are incapable to excel and flourish in their lives. Generally visually impaired individual are seen with sympathy. Visually impaired girls, in particular, are not considered to be eligible for work.
We are already working for overcoming these challenges by organizing social campaigns.
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
Our work is based on a number of guiding principles:
Understanding the feelings people have when they are required to raise their game, when they experience change or when they need to be more effective, motivated and enthusiastic
Behaviour change is hard at the best of times, so we encourage change that's doable and compatible with each person's individuality. We avoid any attempt at wholesale personality transplants
Making the smallest change for the Disabled Community. Sustainable and relevant behavior change will only work if it isn't hard to do and has a big pay off – anything else is a waste of time and money.
Initially these 5 Rj, will define our success by making there selves Ambassadors for Change in their respective communities with self empowered ans sustained.
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2013?
The tentative activities of the project will be as;
• Conduct Meetings with relevant stakeholders formerly like Community based Organizations (CBOs), Edhi Foundation, Special institutions etc
• Selection of Visually Impaired Participants with stronger profile; who can sustain the function ability and has a courage to develop there selves.
• Design and implement capacity building plan
• Purchasing of equipments, eg Computers, Logistics, Simulators etc and furnishing the workplaces according to the needs of participants.
• Motivational and Skill Development Trainings of PWDs.
• Create awareness of the rights of PWDs to every common individual of the community
• Consistent follow-ups and monitoring by the Visionary Foundation Pakistan
Our proposed timelines will be from July 2013-Dec 2013.
Detail a specific budget of up to $4,000 USD for operating costs.
Personnel 300$
Equipments (Laptop. Printer) 500$
Facilities ( One Furniture Set) 100$
Office Supplies ( Printing & Stationery, Postage etc) 200$
Communication (Tele, mobile, internet, IEC material) 300$
Traveling Cost (Vehicle PoL & Local Transport, Fare) 300$
Program Cost (Consultation Meetings, Workshop, Training) 1800$
(Food & Refreshments, Certification, Venue)
Evaluation & Consultancy 200$
Other cost (Misc/Contingency/ ED & and M&E) 100$
Total 3,800$
Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?
It will be a great help if new technological tools and techniques been provided from Rising Voices in shape of Online Trainings, and exchange of ideas to promote and for the success of this unique project.
Contact name
Rashid Mehmood Khan
Organization
Visionary Foundation Pakistan