PFDA-Vocational Training Center Trust, registered by Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB), is Bangladesh’s first vocational training institute for people with Neuro-Developmental Disorders (NDDs). The organization started its journey in 2014 with the slogan of ‘Differently Able Not Disable’. Aiming to provide vocational training, socio-economic development, appropriate rehabilitation and non-discriminatory work environment to adolescent/adult men and women with NDDs (autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome and other neurological disabilities) above 11 years of age. The organization is working to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in achieving the SDG-4 (4.3, 4.4, 4.5), SDG-5, SDG-8, SDG-10, SDG-11, SDG- 17. PFDA-VTC has been providing various institutional employment including sheltered employment, wages employment and self-employment to improve the quality of life of people with neurological disabilities, empower them and bring them into the mainstream society while bringing diversity in the workplace.
PFDA’s ‘Angel Chef’ is Bangladesh’s first bakery and pastry brand run by people with disabilities and has 9 kiosks and 1 open kitchen. The products produced by the trainees of PFDA-Vocational Training Center are being marketed under the brand name of ‘Angel Fair’. PFDA-VTC’s international award-winning ‘Karisma Cultural Organization” is Bangladesh’s first cultural organization for the mentally challenged and a registered cultural group of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Students of the institute have won awards and honors at national and international level.
Recently PFDA-VTC has taken up another project – ‘Angel Eco-Paper’ to produce eco-friendly paper using aquatic plants and other plant wastes.
PFDA-Vocational Training Center Trust has provided employment to more than 380 people so far. 2980 people from various trades have received training from the institution and more than 9000 parents have received counseling and other services. The trainees are working in various organizations including Dhaka International Airport, ‘Swapno’ Retail Shop, Apex Footwear, Transcom Group, Angel Chef. We are creating a realistic and strong foundation for people with special needs so that they become an “asset and not a burden” to society.
