Ágora project: labour integration challenge

Abstract

In Latin America, in the late 1990s, 80% of visually impaired people were unemployed. This was due to analphabetism, a lack of autonomy and difficulties to access Information and Communication Technology (ict).
Thus, once Foundation for Solidarity with the Blind in Latin America (foal in Spanish) aims to fostering their labour integration and therefore, it has implemented the Ágora Project (Aulas de Gestión Ocupacional de la Región de América Latina, in Spanish). The Foundation understands that improving employability increases the level of self esteem, autonomy and independence, which not only favours individual but also community aspects and enable the creation of a more inclusive society.
The Agora Project encourages integration in the world of work and takes visually impaired people’s quality of life up to a human rights extent. Each beneficiary has a personal interview in which abilities and aptitudes for the position are identified. Beneficiaries count with an employability itinerary –aimed to access a job– in which capacity building actions, job training or support for designing a business plan are included.