SKILLS ACQUISITION BOOTCAMP

In many parts of the world, persons with disabilities are often marginalized and excluded from various opportunities, including skills acquisition and employment. Women and girls with disabilities face even greater challenges as they are often subjected to multiple layers of discrimination based on their gender and disability. To address this problem, the Skills Acquisition Bootcamp was organized to equip young women and girls with disabilities with different kinds of entrepreneurial skills, and in-demand employability skills, and provide them with startup kits to establish their businesses. This blog post aims to highlight the impact of the Skills Acquisition Bootcamp on the lives of women and girls with disabilities in the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Benue State.

Event Details: The Skills Acquisition Bootcamp was held at the Catholic Diocese of Gboko Institute for Human Development and Resource Center. The program provided a platform for young women and girls with disabilities to learn different kinds of entrepreneurial skills such as tailoring, baking, bead making, soap making, and hairdressing. The program also integrated and mainstreamed young women and girls with disabilities into digital marketing training to enable them to operate their businesses online. In addition, in-demand employability skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership were taught to the participants.

Success Stories: The impact of the Skills Acquisition Bootcamp on the lives of young women and girls with disabilities was significant. One of the major successes of the program was the establishment of 15 businesses by women and girls with disabilities who were provided with startup kits to start their businesses. These businesses ranged from tailoring, bead making, soap making, hairdressing, and baking. This has not only provided these women and girls with a source of income but has also increased their financial independence, which has improved their economic status.

Moreover, the skills acquired by these women and girls with disabilities have also enabled them to secure employment opportunities in both the private and public sectors. This has reduced the poverty rate among women and girls with disabilities in the Catholic Diocese of Gboko. The program has also helped to reduce cases of abuse as it has increased the self-esteem of women and girls with disabilities. They are now more confident and assertive in defending themselves against any form of abuse or discrimination.

Another success story of the program is the increase in independence and level of acceptance of women and girls with disabilities in their communities. They are now seen as productive members of their communities, who are contributing to the economic growth of their communities. This has increased the level of acceptance of persons with disabilities in the community and has reduced discrimination against them.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the Skills Acquisition Bootcamp has been a game-changer for young women and girls with disabilities in the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Benue State. The program has equipped them with different kinds of entrepreneurial skills, and in-demand employability skills, and provided them with startup kits to establish their businesses. The impact of the program on the lives of these women and girls with disabilities has been significant, as they have become more independent, financially stable, and more confident in their abilities. It is hoped that more programs like the Skills Acquisition Bootcamp will be organized in different parts of Nigeria to empower persons with disabilities and reduce discrimination against them.