Empowering women & physically challenged by ICT Training

We (Elegant IT Limited) have observed that many qualified women are leaving their career in the growth stage to raise the families. In some context, women or their families are not interested to have challenging jobs which involves traveling, field works, extended time etc. Similarly, there are very few opportunities for physically challenged people; they are often considered as only burden. But these both groups have huge potentials and possibilities to contribute in scaling up the economy not limited to of their family or social but the national level. 

Considering the challenges, potentials, and impact, we are building capacities of these people by providing trainings in the field of ICT which will allow them to have flexible working place and time. They can work from their home with convenient schedule. Women need not to choose between career or family and the physically challenged people can have an economically independent life.

In a survey of 500 managers, it is shown that 40% of managers avoid hiring younger women to get around maternity leave. Among the women employees, only 29% holds managerial role in the context of South Asia. According to the report of UNESCO, the literacy rate for females in Bangladesh has risen from 43.74% to 69.90%, whereas the managerial role is unnoticeable.  

Another study shows that 43 % of highly qualified women with children are leaving careers or off-ramping for a period of time. Many women are forced to choose between motherhood and their career. A large number of young university graduates enter the job market with a lot of enthusiasm. But that starts to fade within a few years as they are expected to expand their families. This mid-way exodus of female executives reduces the number of capable women in senior positions.

There are an estimated 16 million people with disabilities in Bangladesh, or 10% of the country's population. Despite national policies that protect the rights of persons with disabilities (for example, a 10% job quota for persons with disabilities), in reality they face unfair competition or neglected. They are only considered as burden

We have some social taboos- women participation in technological field is viewed as a doubtful career. They are considered not to be equally good in complex fields such as science or technology. Choosing career over families is a taboo for women. Likewise, the physically challenged people are considered only BURDEN or SHAME. They are cut off from the main-stream of society and neglected.

Every year Bangladesh creates around 1.2 million jobs, mostly benefitting men. Whereas, the latest Bangladesh Development Update suggests that to comfortably reach middle income status by 2021, Bangladesh needs more women to join the workforce. Study also said Bangladesh can increase its GDP growth by 1.6% if female labor participation increases from 33.7% currently to 82%. Similarly, the potentials of 10% of Bangladesh’s population (physically challenged) are wasted.

Considering the facts, challenges and possibilities, Elegant has set its goal to empower women and physically challenged people (the Differently Able) by creating congenial and sustainable work opportunities in ICT local and global market. The primary target beneficiaries are women/ ex-working mothers and the physically challenged people interested to build their career in the field of ICT and; the education qualification is graduation degree and higher school certificate respectively.

As a believer of women empowerment, Elegant employed majority of potential and talented female professionals. Unfortunately, Elegant experienced that many skilled women are leaving their jobs only to raise their families. Elegant has observed that many skilled women in the industry leave career in the growth stage for the sake of families and to stay at home.

The majority of women especially mothers does not want the traditional 40-hour work week. They would prefer flexible hours —rather than the standard 9-to-5—and to work from home when possible.  Similarly, physically challenged  people tend to have desk job with their convenient of environment and time. This is not only the condition of Bangladesh, in other parts of world, the situation is quite similar. For example, a study have been done on the Mom project of USA and the findings are- Just 9 percent of moms want to work a typical full-time week and 3 percent said they would work over 40 hours. The bulk of the respondents to have flexible working hour. The survey also found that working moms would prefer flexible hours that allow them to work at the most convenient time—rather than the standard 9-to-5—and to work from home when possible.

In Bangladesh, Considering the situation, Elegant came up with the concept to have ‘My place, My time’ where they can have their freedom to choose the time schedule and place of work. Elegant is building capacity of this ‘differently able group’ by providing training on the ICT sector to become freelance. We are introducing them in the ICT market and assist them in finding jobs in the virtual world. We are also promoting and nursing the talents of the trained-participants in local and global platform.

We have started ‘the My place, my time’ concept at our organization for 10 women and we have given them free training on the basic of ICT fields for about a month. And we have achieved a high number of successes. About 7 of them are now working in the ICT market as freelancers under Elegant’s profile. We are sourcing work and assisting them in execution. It has been proved as a huge success not only for our organization but to the women who were skilled and passionate but only for the lack of opportunities and work patterns, their talents were wasted which is a huge loss for individual and national level. We want to implement this idea on national level and that’s why we are reaching out government, corporates and donor agencies for raising funds.

We are targeting the highly educated women and physically challenged people whose skilled and potentialities are completed neglected. Their contribution can play a huge role in rising up the national GDP. Not only for the economic empowerment, but also for the equal access in every sphere of life, we like would like to implement the project and to bring a huge positive change in our society and to break the taboos.  

Elegant IT is a profitable start-up company. The concept was implemented on small sale to see the impact. There were 10 women who were supported by free ICT training to become independent professionals. After observing the changes and positive impacts, we decided to plan for this idea in larger scale. In next two years, we are targeting 10000 women, ex-working women and physically challenged educated people who wants to build career in the ICT field. In five years, the number would be 50000. 

In next two year:

• 10000 women, Ex-working women and Physically challenged group will be provided training.

• Four introductory class on basic ICT topics and 12 classes on specific subject matter such as 3D modeling/UX-UI, digital marketing, website designing etc.
• 200 batches of trainings consist of 50 students in each section.
• In the 10 divisions of Bangladesh, training will be provided
• Training lessons can be accessed from  you tube and other online ports
• Five help center will be set up in Bangladesh
• 100 Community ICT leaders/volunteers will be created  who will assist others

In 5 year:

• 50000 women, Ex-working women and Physically challenged group will be provided training.

• In the 30 divisions of Bangladesh, training will be provided
• Training lessons can be accessed from  you tube and other online ports
• 20 help center will be set up in Bangladesh
• 500 Community ICT leaders/volunteers will be created who will assist others

As we are a strut-up company, we will not be able to implement the project without funding. Our core aim is not to make profit out of it rather to empower women and physically challenged people by building their capacity in the ICT field in line with national and sustainable 2030 goal. So, raising fund is one of our core challenges. In addition, we have certain social and cultural norms, beliefs and factors or in other words, we have some taboos in practices, we need to have advocacy strategies to policy level, engage civil society and mobilize community in the project activities. The primary focus would be on the beneficiaries but there should be some activities targeting the secondary and tertiary level stakeholders who can help us in enabling environment for establishing the differently able people’s rights. 

Real challenge and impactful success play huge role in changing perspective of an individual, family or society. The issues we are aiming to solve is felt and experienced by a huge number of population. Without ensuring empowering our women and physically challenged people who are huge in number and in possibilities, our national growth cannot be imagined. What is the benefit of creating working opportunities or access to education for these people if they cannot avail it? In coming years this would be a burning issue if we do not act now. To showcase the impact of problem and the possible changes will motivate policymakers and development field experts to work alongside with us. We are reaching Government, donor and corporates for raising funds. Media is one of the strongest players to impact in the society. We are planning to use the channel to create awareness in the society.

Right now, we have a team on 10 experts who are working on this project. Five of them are looking after the technical part and 5 are subject matter specialists for the training.

First of all, we strongly believe in women empowerment and equal opportunities for physically challenged people. The key personnel of the project have tremendous experience in managing development projects (USAID, DFID, Bill and Melinda Gates foundation etc.) focus on the sustainable goal especially humanitarian rights, gender equity, access to education and women empowerment. And the subject matter specialist trainers have profound and hands on experiences in the field of ICT.

We are providing the ICT training for free to the women and physically challenged people. Our business plan is to charge 10-15% on the each task sourced by Elegant Technology.  As we will be implementing the project, our consulting and implementing revenue will be 10-15% on the total value of the project.  

We are pitching to government ministries under ICT activities, donor agencies and the large corporates to access the Corporate Social Responsibilities fund.  

As I have gone through the details of the challenge and we found that our objectives match with your requirements. We are working for a worthy cause to scale up the marginalized people who are very important for a nation to be developed. With technological advancement, we cannot be prepared to reach, grasp and sustain the global market. And without almost the half of the nation, we will never be able to earn a sustainable, healthy and workable environment for us or the future generation. 

We believe that you can guide us to right direction to implement the project and to fund or to assist to raise the fund for the project. Under your guidance, you will get the platform to showcase our cause and to reach the larger audience to support the project cause. 

Other than the donor agencies, for implementing the project, we may require some local implementing non-profit partner organization focusing on women empowerment and physically challenged people.