Uplifting through education: web development course for people with disabilities
At Empower Foundation, we always strive to bring positive change in the world and create an impact in the society. Recently, we conducted a three-month course on Web Development for People with Disabilities (PWDs) in partnership with the Network of Organizations Working for People with Disabilities Pakistan (NOWPDP). This program was aimed at providing PWDs with in-demand employable skills and empowering them financially so they can lead independent lives and participate in society with ease.
Creating opportunities through technical education
Carefully designed by our team of experienced software professionals at 10Pearls, the course provided a comprehensive introduction to HTML and CSS and taught students to build a website from scratch. More than 30 students with various hearing, speaking and physical disabilities attended our bi-weekly classes, held at the NOWPDP center. To make the course easier for our students, we arranged a sign language interpreter to facilitate teacher-student communication and provided them laptops to practice their skills.
During the training, our teachers noticed that several students had only basic knowledge of computer skills and took this opportunity to teach them how to operate computers and improve their digital literacy.
“Everyone deserves equal opportunities but differently-abled youth are often deprived of such chances. It felt great to teach the talented students at NOWPDP practical skills to help them stand on their feet. With just a little bit of support, I believe they can achieve wonders.” – Muhammad Zaid Khan, Senior Software Engineer @10Pearls, Course Instructor
By the end of the training, the students were able to build their very own websites. We were proud to see the amazing work they created! To celebrate their remarkable achievement, our team awarded certificates to students for successfully completing the course.
Changing lives: Internships and employment
As a result of our course, 10Pearls offered the top 4 performers a 2-month internship to help them gain further exposure and training in a professional work environment. Based on their exceptional abilities, hard work, and willingness to learn, 2 of these interns, Shah Niaz and Abdul Qadir Usman, were extended full-time job offers. We are thrilled to have them join our team and hope that their success inspires other people with disabilities to reach for their dreams as well.
“It has been a great experience working for an industry leader like 10Pearls. I have received a lot of support and guidance and really gotten the chance to prove myself and learn new skills.” – Abdul Qadir Usman, Associate UX engineer @10Pearls and former NOWPDP intern
Empower Foundation’s Mission
Societal bias, lack of awareness and a shortage of resources often limits access to training and educational opportunities for people with disabilities, leaving them vulnerable to poverty. Through such trainings, Empower Foundation aims to solve this problem and empower PWD’s financially, so they can overcome societal barriers and find their voice.