Sustainable Livelihood
Economic participation of youngsters with disabilities is an important part of the Liliane Foundation’s livelihood programme. Even though the right to work is laid down in the UN Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities, it is estimated that in some countries up to 80 per cent of all persons with disabilities are unemployed. The Liliane Foundation considers a sustainable livelihood as an important and inevitable aspect of disability-inclusive development.
Lack of education limits possibilities
Adolescents with disabilities often have limited opportunities to go to school, attend training courses and develop their skills. Subsequently, this lack of education limits their prospects of finding employment. The ones that do have jobs, often encounter difficult working conditions. The labour market is least accessible for young people with intellectual or psychosocial impairments, and adolescent girls with disabilities.
Call center training in Peru
In Peru, our Strategic Partner Organisation Fundades provides
training to physically disabled youngsters to work in call
centers. Multiple businesses cooperate in this initiative.
While the students are being taught the necessary skills for
their future employment, the companies are being involved to
ensure adequate inclusion of their future employees.
Cafebility: hospitality jobs in India
In India, our Strategic Partner Organisation JVS initiated
'Cafebility', a catering business run by young people with
disabilities. Visitors see what young people with disabilities
are capable of. And that, if they get the chance, they can
provide for their livelihood themselves. Cafebility has a big
impact on the community and on the image of people with
disabilities.
Employable: economic inclusion
In Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia, ‘Employable’ promotes the
economic inclusion of youngsters with disabilities. Through
quality vocational training, these youngsters are able to
secure a decent income for themselves. The programme targets
youngsters with disabilities, local training centers and
private sector actors to achieve systemic change.
Decent work and self-confidence
With our livelihood programme, the Liliane Foundation supports youngsters with disabilities gain a sustainable livelihood, to have access to social protection measures, and to obtain decent work and income.
Our approach is to:
- Work on rehabilitation to increase their level of activity, self-confidence and skills;
- Support youngsters and their caregivers to become more resilient, and enable them to influence decision-making and to claim their rights;
- Support vocational training institutes, workplaces, governmental institutions and financial institutions, to become more disability-inclusive in their policies and practices.
Youngsters with severe or multiple disabilities will not be able to develop a sustainable livelihood or contribute to economic activities. In these cases, the Liliane Foundation invests in daycare activities and livelihood interventions for their caregivers, so that they will become more self-reliant and economically self-sustaining.
Towards Disability Inclusive Sustainable Livelihoods
2020 - 35 pp
Position paper on Disability Inclusive Sustainable Livelihoods.
Related project
The following project is related to the theme of inclusive employment.
Other areas of expertise
We are continuously expanding our expertise in these themes to facilitate our Partner Organizations.
•
Community Based Rehabilitation
• Inclusive Education
•
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
• Transport and communication
Theme expert
For more information about our activities on inclusive employment, please contact our theme expert.
Lucy Schalkwijk
+ 31 73 518 94 20
E-mail