13 PwDs to participate in 10th International Abilympics at France from March 23-26

Team L&M

Thirteen persons with disabilities, selected from all over the country, will participate at the 10th International Abilympics, the global skills competition for persons with disabilities in Metz, France scheduled from March 23-26, 2023. The contingent will be representing India in the 12 different skill categories. The team will participate in select trades from overall 45 competitive skill categories, under ICT, Crafts, Hospitality, Services and Industry.

The event aims to create public awareness and nurture the productive talent of persons with disabilities by providing them opportunities to acquire and enhance their vocational skills to achieve economic independence.

Organised by the Abilympics France Association in partnership with WorldSkills France, it will have over 1500 participants from across the globe. Called Abilympics: a movement of Excellence in Skilling, the event comprises vocational skills competitions, specifically designed for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), to screen and showcase the best talent in vocational skill categories like IT, Arts & Crafts, Hospitality and Services.

Says Dr Jitendra Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, Sarthak Educational Trust & Secretary General  of the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI), “Participating in Abilympics proves highly beneficial for PwD because they compete with similar kind of people to show their special talent & skills. In addition, they get exposure to find better job opportunities in government sector as well as with big brands, which also boosts their confidence.”

Since 2016, NAAI and Sarthak Educational Trust have been working closely with government agencies, corporate bodies and civil society to make inroads in job markers for PwDs.

Chetan Pashilkar from Mumbai who is hearing impaired and representing India in Skill Category – Painting & Decoration shares, “During my special schooling in early childhood, I had a knack to make sketches. I soon realised that it is more than just a hobby and am gifted with the talent of arts. To learn more in the field and polish my skills, I completed my Masters in Fine Arts. For International Abilympics I am being trained on a weekly basis online by the faculty of Lady Irwin College. I also attended the offline training boot camp in Delhi in January 2022”

Adds Mohit Majety who is also representing in the Skill Category – Photography (Outdoor), “I have locomotor disability by birth in hand and right leg. While studying B Tech at IIT, Kharagpur, I realised my love for outdoor photography, and started clicking pictures, which were appreciated by both, my friends and professors.”