Shahin Bepari Lambe
Panaji
A 26-year-old man from Birla, Vasco, who was born with congenital deafblindness, today runs his own shop and earns an income for himself and his family. The journey was made possible through skill training and livelihood support provided by
Caritas Goa.
Completely deaf, with 100 per cent blindness in one eye and partial vision in the other, the young entrepreneur first had to learn basic life skills before he could think about earning a livelihood. With guidance from Caritas Goa, he learned to count money, move independently and communicate with others using sign language.
His story is among several highlighted ahead of International Day of Deafblindness, observed on June 26, which only go to emphasise the role of training and support in helping persons with deafblindness become
more independent.
Caritas Goa has established around 10 income-generation projects in North Goa and another 10 in South Goa to support deafblind young adults through training, guidance and livelihood opportunities. The organisation runs community-based programmes aimed at empowering at-risk youth and differently abled individuals through vocational training and sustainable income opportunities.
Educator and interpreter at the Caritas Goa project, T Scot said special methods are used while training persons
with deafblindness.
“At Caritas we use tactile sign language to teach them. Being deafblind is very difficult. They need special care and attention. We train them in basic things like counting money, moving independently and interacting with others through sign language,” he said.
The 26-year-old also participated in a Himalayan trekking journey from Ghandruk to Chomrong along with his educator Scot, in collaboration with Sense International India and under the guidance of the Deafblind Association of Nepal. Fifteen other deafblind adults and their interpreters from India also took part.
Scot said the experience demonstrated that persons with deafblindness can take on challenges and achieve greater independence when provided with appropriate support.
“Now under this project, he has his own shop where he sells basic things and generates income for himself and his family. The support does not stop it continues to transform lives,” he said.
Another beneficiary from Mango Hills, Vasco, who is completely blind and can hear only with the aid of a hearing device at a close distance, has also benefited from the programme. He learned skills such as ironing, cooking and nail trimming, helping him become more independent. His family, which earlier sold only coconuts, now also sells fruits and vegetables.
Scot said Caritas Goa also provides work-from-home opportunities to those unable to start a business.
“We give them work like bracelet making and paper bag making. We provide them with all the materials and we sell their products to shops and pharmacies,” he said.
The programme focuses on individual support, with each educator training a minimum of three deafblind young adults.
