Looking at Sara* today, you will see a confident person who dreams of becoming a baking instructor. What you may not be aware of is that Sara has a disability, which may not be visible to most people.

25-year-old Sara has mild intellectual disability and experiences emotional breakdowns under pressure. Ever since she was diagnosed, her family has been concerned about her future and financial independence, especially since they struggle with financial difficulties.

To help lessen the family’s financial burdens, we provided subsidies to support Sara’s specialised Vocational Training programme in baking at APSN Centre for Adults. During training, Sara picked up baking skills from our dedicated instructors and learnt more about food hygiene, food handling and kitchen cleanliness.

Sara also joined our Peer Social Skills programme to help improve her communication skills and overcome social anxiety in the workplace. Through regular counselling sessions with our Allied Professionals, Sara is now able to manage her emotions when faced with external stress factors.

When Sara graduates from our Vocational Training programme, our Employability Services team will be ready to support Sara in securing a suitable job to help her achieve her dream. Her parents are pleased that Sara will be able to make a positive contribution to the family, and their previously fractured relationship has grown closer than ever.

At APSN, we support many beneficiaries with special needs, like Sara, who face significant challenges in their lives. Your donation can help empower our beneficiaries by equipping them with the necessary skills required for the workforce through vocational training, realistic on-the-job training and employment support services.

* To protect the identity of our beneficiary, her name has been changed and a volunteer model was used in the photograph.