June 22, 2007:
JICA-net Conference
Training Report - Vocational Rehabilitation Course 2007

There are many former JICA participants working actively in their own countries. Why not learn from them? JICA-net is a satellite and makes it possible. The participants can learn how former participants have applied what they learned in Japan to their work after returning to their home countries.

It was the first time to use JICA net in this course and this year we connected with two former participants in Malaysia, Ms. Cecilia Singoon (participant of the year 2005) and Ms. Yeo Swee Lan (participant of the year 2006). Both former participants work for the employment promotion of persons with intellectual disabilities in Malaysia.

Ms. Cecilia Singoon works in Seri Mengasih Center in Sabah and she started a new prevocational program applying the vocational assessment and transitional program learned in Japan.

Presentation Material (PDF file)

Ms. Yeo Swee Lan is a coordinator of United Voice. United Voice promotes self-advocacy of people with intellectual disabilities and being able to speak up for themselves is an important factor for employment issues. For many participants, it was first time to hear about Self-advocacy.

Presentation Material (PDF file) [01 , 02 , 03 , 04 , 05 ]

 

The participants raised many questions; "How to convince your superiors?" "What was the biggest difficulty when they try to implement their action plan?" "How is the society's attitude towards persons with intellectual disabilities in Malaysia?" etc. During the session, each participant also shared the employment situation of persons with intellectual disabilities in their own countries and Ms. Cecilia and Ms. Swee Lan gave comments.

The participants were encouraged by getting to know the former participants' activities. Before closing, the participant from Pakistan made a brief speech on behalf of ten participants. Thank you