In May 2016, in Tirrenia, Italy, the European Blind Union (EBU) organized a course on job-seeking skills and employment of young visually impaired people with all the challenges and possibilities. We were the two participants from Finland, Susanna Halme and Anniina Latikka, and we found our four days in Italy very useful so we started to make plans about how to spread the word in Finland. The idea of Let's work! events was the result!
During the autumn we organized a three-workshop-tour which offered opportunities to discuss and learn about themes related to employment of visually impaired youth.
Performing skills, strengths and activeness
Let's work! was a tour that stopped in three cities in Finland: Helsinki, Turku and Joensuu. There was an active and participative workshop in every city. Normally there were about 5-10 participants in one workshop. We were really modern because there were youths taking part both physically present and via Skype.
We chose a different theme for each workshop. In Italy we discussed many issues: CV and application letter, body language and performing skills, job interview, different theories, recognizing strengths and weaknesses etc. We took the most useful elements and decided to further develop them.
In Helsinki the theme was body language and performing skills, in Turku we recognized one's own strengths and weaknesses and in Joensuu we considered the meaning of networking, volunteering and being proactive. We created the workshops using verbal, active and non-formal methods so that everyone had a chance to really participate and learn. There were opportunities to give a speech, act out different kind of communication situations with a partner, consider future plans and develop great dreams – dreams that can come true!
Learning through talking and practicing
Non-formal methods and a possibility to discuss with others were the absolute strengths of the Let's work! tour. We managed to offer an open space for exchanging experiences, learning from each other and creating new ideas and viewpoints.
"It was good that you could talk and try things by yourself. In my opinion, for example related to body language and performing, there are no easy solutions or absolute instructions on how to do it. That's why it's very fruitful to think of these issues together with different people and from different viewpoints", says Senni Hirvonen who took part in workshops in Helsinki and Joensuu.
Väinö Rihti, who was part of the workshop in Turku, feels the same: "It was useful that things were learned by doing, both independently and with a group, using active methods. Because of the practical exercises I got concrete examples of the issues".
Employment – a big issue
The goal of the Let's work! –workshops was to give youths an opportunity to meet each other, exchange experiences and feelings and talk about the challenges and solutions of employment. We also hoped that during this project the skills that are needed in a work situation would have been improved. These goals were clearly fulfilled and we noticed how strong the need for open discussion is. There are challenges related to employment and blind and partially sighted youths are thinking about them.
"How to get started in a new workplace? How do I learn to move around in a new environment? How do I understand the social structures and rules of the workplace? I feel I'm a pretty good at writing application letters and I manage in interviews. But in a real work situation I'm a bit afraid when I have to prove that I can do something as a blind person. What if I don't know all my skills and problem-solutions myself either", considers Senni.
As Väinö puts it: "The biggest challenges to employment are, in my opinion, employer's attitudes towards blindness and how to solve problems that are caused by visual impairment".
So, there is a need for discussion and meeting others that are facing the same situation. Let's work! was one way to fulfil this need. We concentrated on specializing on so-called “visually impaired questions”. When seeking a job, when I should mention my visual impairment? Is my visual impairment a strength, a weakness, or both? What is my own body language like and what if I can't see others' gestures and facial expression? There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.
Both the participants and we as organizers got lots of new ideas and viewpoints to think about. One of the biggest strengths was the youth-to-youth model. Why should there always be someone older and cleverer to organize everything? Youths themselves have the best knowledge when talking about youth issues.
Let's work! achieved a lot. Senni give a concrete example of her learning experience.
"In both workshops I got an opportunity to give a speech about my future plans and dreams. Planning the speeches helped me to realise what I really want from my future. I have quite often felt that I'm interested a little bit in almost everything. Now this process helped me define my professional interests more clearly", says Senni who is studying to become a special education teacher at the University of Joensuu.
More coming
The Let's work! –project is continuing. More events will hopefully be organized during this spring. In addition, we are making a series for the internet radio of visually impaired youth which raises awareness of issues related to employment. Let's work! is funded and strongly supported by the employment department of the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired.
Text: Susanna Halme