The joy of technology

I was working today, it was a Leprosy Mission Scotland Board meeting, so I was on minute duty. We took advantage of the wonders of Skype to help our Board members get a better picture of how the money we raise in Scotland is spent. We set up a link with Angshuman Biswas, the head of Bankura Vocational Training Centre (VTC), one of our key partner projects in West Bengal, India. The centre is about 150 miles from Kolkata. In the 24 years since it opened, 3000 students have been trained in a number of areas, like welding, cutting and sewing, knitting and tailoring, electric and electronic (diesel) mechanics. Students come from poor and marginalised families. whether due to leprosy, disability, or caste. They learn practical skills, transferable and social skills, have industry placements and graduate with recognised qualifications.

But as important as the qualifications are, the course gives students even more important things - confidence and self belief. The reputation of the VTC is such that their employment prospects are excellent, giving them opportunities which would not otherwise have been possible. In 2010 over 100 students were taken on by just 3 companies who specifically targeted them, 2 of the companies even came to the VTC to conduct interviews on campus. They can support their families, who in most cases have very limited opportunities to earn money.

So, another reminder of why I love what we do! It was great to hear about it, the Board really appreciated it. But my head is a bit dead right now!