During 19^th - 24^th of April another chicken raising training took place at COMPED HOME. This course includes a two-day chicken raising as well as two-day business training. The ambition of this project is, to give blind and visually impaired people as well as in a different way disabled persons, the opportunity to gain an income or to contribute to the self-sufficiency of their families. For the training in April, 9 people were chosen by COMPED HOME Leader. One of the attendants is completely blind and another two are strongly visually impaired. Five more trainees suffer from polio. In addition to that one course-attendant got amputated one of his forearms infected of a snake bite. The participants are between 16 and 32 years old. In the matter of fact, that one destined blind canceled his attendants, another blind participant was chosen by the organization “NCDP”.  Because 4 of the 9 trainees can’t read or write, they were supported by COMPED employees, when it came to written assignments.

 

     The first two days of course where accomplished with the assistance of two employees from the organization “CelAgrid”. At the outset the participants took a pre-test to assess their knowledge and at once to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of the program after the training. The results were, as accepted, rather bad. None of the trainees averaged a score above 70%. The values ranged between 33% and 67%. In fact of a delay, two attendants could not take the pre-test before the first seminar-day was over. Because of this, the results might underlie distortions (the two of them reached 71,4% and 78,5%). After that the assignment for the participants was to formulate their expectations. In this connection, things like gaining practical experiences, achieving the start-up capital as well as getting information about feeding and vaccination processes, were named. The following part was the theoretical chicken raising training, which was made less severe with the help of practical exercises and group activities. This also kept up the attention and gave the trainees the chance to make first practical experiences. In the context of the theoretical training, topics like “opportunities and problems of chicken raising”, “building of cages”, “accurate feeding”, “vaccination” as well as “common diseases” were discussed. To keep up the learning effects permanently, each participant received a booklet with all necessary information about chicken raising. In order to give the blind and visually impaired trainees the chance to deal with the subjects after the course, the whole seminar was recorded on tape. In fact of that the concerned persons are able to listen to all topics again during their six-month stay.

     In addition to that the following business training was also recorded on tape. This part of the course was held with the help of two employees of the organization “NCDP”. In the business training topics like “advantages and disadvantages of a small business”, “planning the upcoming chicken raising”, “savings and re-investment”, “potential problems and solutions” as well as “foundation of book keeping” were discussed. The atmosphere during the whole seminar can be valuated as really positive. The participants showed a lot of commitment and willingness to learn. They laughed a lot, though the working discipline was really high and courageous. Course instructors as well as participants made an enduring satisfied impression, which certainly contributed to a positive learning effect. Following the four-day seminar, now the practical training takes place. The intention is, that the trainees learn, how to transfer the achieved knowledge discretely. In addition to that they have the opportunity to gain several practical experiences, while they have experts with them during the learning process. In fact of that many problems can be thwarted preventative. To evaluate the learning progress, there will be another chicken raising seminar-day at 21th of May, which will also be held with the help of “ Celagrid”. At this time the trainees have the chance to clarify potential ambiguities. Besides that, they will take a post-test to evaluate the effects of the training. The blind and visually impaired participants will stay at COMPED HOME for 6 months. Despite their different disabilities it is therefore possible, that they can deal with the learning content with their individual learning speed. For the remaining trainees a stay of 2 months is planned.

     Trainees learn how to mixing the food from market with existing food they can find around their place 

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