Ankur means seedling. It is the vocational program of The Ashish Foundation for the Differently-Abled (AFDA). It trains students with ASD in various skills in order for them to gain more independence. They have learned to make things such as candles, holiday cards and gift envelopes, jewelry, purses, paper mache items, Christmas decorations and tree ornaments, mini waste
bins, pencil stands, book marks,
and needle-point articles. They sell their items, which are very popular, and produce them year round. They are also taught workplace skills such as appropriate hygiene, dress, language and vocabulary, and interview skills. The students learn to be fiscally responsible and have bank accounts. Many of these students will one day be able to be in the workforce.
To increase their opportunities to practice and implement these skills, as well as start to earn a salary, AFDA has established Second Chance, a thrift store. This is a new concept here in India. It has been interesting to educate and enlist people to donate appropriate items which can be sold in the store. The donations are flooding in from individuals and businesses alike as the work gets out. The students of Ankur are employed to run the store. They do most of the work. In the first month they earned enough to pay for all the expenses, so they were able to receive salaries. It was such a proud moment for the students, their families, and everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen.
To increase their opportunities to practice and implement these skills, as well as start to earn a salary, AFDA has established Second Chance, a thrift store. This is a new concept here in India. It has been interesting to educate and enlist people to donate appropriate items which can be sold in the store. The donations are flooding in from individuals and businesses alike as the work gets out. The students of Ankur are employed to run the store. They do most of the work. In the first month they earned enough to pay for all the expenses, so they were able to receive salaries. It was such a proud moment for the students, their families, and everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen.
