British Council

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The British Council, the UK's principal cultural relations organisation with a presence in 110 countries, is committed to equality and diversity and to making this a reality across its network.

In 2005 Samina Khan, deputy director of British Council Karachi with regional responsibility for equality, and Fiona Bartels-Ellis, head of equality and diversity based in the UK developed a project providing work placements for people in Pakistan with learning difficulties.

Khan approached a local organisation, Karachi Vocational Training Centre (KVTC), which has an impressive record of working with people with learning difficulties. KVTC agreed to work in partnership with the British Council, selecting, preparing, mentoring and evaluating participants. British Council staff attended a training workshop, "in recognition that they had as much to learn from the initiative as the participants", says Khan.

Fourteen placements were arranged in different departments including accounts and HR. Remuneration, viewed as important, was set at a mutually agreed figure of 1000 rupees a week. Of the 14 trainees, three have since found paid employment and four have been promoted within KVTC.

Samina Khan says: "We were very pleased with the level of commitment and hard work demonstrated. Most of the participants did not need significant adjustments to work on equal terms with others. In order to recognise this, though, we had to move away from our preconceived ideas and look instead at what each individual was capable of doing."

In Pakistan the project has been extended to Lahore, where staff will be offering jobs invigilating exams. Other organisations, including the Government of Punjab, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Skills Development Council, are also now involved. Meanwhile the Ministry of Special Education is considering how to accredit qualifications obtained by people with learning difficulties.

The British Council shared its learning from the placements across its offices worldwide and with British companies in Pakistan, as potential employers of disabled people. Learning was also disseminated at a seminar in Karachi, where Simon Minty, of Churchill, Minty and Friend, gave the keynote speech, focusing on society's attitudes to disability and what organisations can do to encourage employment. During his stay in Pakistan, he also delivered disability awareness training for British Council and British High Commission staff.

Khan comments: "What started as a small project involving 14 placements has had real impact - for the participants, for the British Council staff and our stakeholders and partners and within wider society in Pakistan."

The British Council