A HOMEGROWN food and distibution company has acquired the franchise of a Manila-based vocational school specializing in culinary arts and crafts, the Open Hand School for Applied Arts (OHSAA), which is set to open in April in Davao City.
The AA Group of Companies has envisioned this vocational institution as a special education and transition services denter to help individuals with special needs achieve their full potential.
The Davao franchise will be the first branch outside Metro Manila whose program is designed mainly to address independent living skills, vocational education and career development for individuals with special needs.
“People with special needs can live fully functional and independent life if given support during their younger years,” Justin Rafael Mejos, marketing officer of AA Group of Companies said at the sidelines of the recently concluded Awareness Talk dubbed as “Future Proofing Your Child with Special Needs” last February 17 at the Abreeza Mall Activity Center.
He said bringing OHSAA, a school that caters to 10 and above years old, is a way of giving their students who are currently enrolled in the company's center, the “TeamworksBehavioralTheraphy”, an initial step before the students can enter OHSAA.
At present, the school’s location is yet to be announced as preparatory measures is still being underway.
OHSAA was founded in 2011 by Chef Waya Araos-Wijangco in Quezon City with a vision of creating a safe learning environment for young adults with special needs.
A vocational school geared towards mastery of functional academics, social, and community skills to enable the students to become independent members of society.
“More than just expanding the school nationwide, our vision is really expanding the mindsets of the people especially the parents whose children have special needs that these individuals are capable. This is a start of the celebration of capabilities,” Wijangco said.
Justin Senturias, a master teacher in special education in OHSAA in Quezon City, for his part said that they “guide individuals in developing functional independence, positive attitudes, self-confidence, and vocational competencies and help them locate, secure, and retain employment in the community or sheltered environment, and to enable such individuals to become productive members of the community.”
Among the OHSAA’s programs are the Life Skills Development (LSD), Get Ready to Work (Grow), Towards Employment and Entrepreneurship (TEE), Transition Into Employment Program (TIE), and enrichment classes.
The LSD program is geared towards developing one’s ability to cope with the challenges of daily life. Specifically, it focuses on skills in literacy, social communication, healthy living, domestic life, personal care and safety while the Grow program introduces knowledge of workplace readiness skills. It prepares the students to take on new ventures toward gaining independence and employment.
Furthermore, TEE program strengthens knowledge of workplace readiness kills.
School-based learning programs are reinforced with workbased learning activities to prepare students for the world of work, and obtain skills for daily living and the TIE program strengthens the knowledge of workplace readiness skills.
Work-based learning programs are reinforced through hands on tasks in a supported workplace setup.
Wijangco bared that they are in talks with Cebu and other parts of Luzon for the OHSAA’s expansion starting this year.