Intel India Receives Helen Keller Award

Intel India has received the Helen Keller Award for its contribution in using technology to transform the lives of the intellectually challenged.

The award, presented to Intel on the eve of World Disability Day, December 2, 2007, acknowledges the company's efforts towards helping intellectually challenged individuals to learn technology skills, thereby generating employment opportunities for them, through the Intel - AMBA Centers for Economic Empowerment of the Intellectually Challenged (CEEIC). The national level Hellen Keller Award recognizes the initiatives undertaken by companies to promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative globally, Intel India in collaboration with its NGO partner AMBA founded the Intel - AMBA Center for Economic Empowerment of the Intellectually Challenged in 2004, a technology training lab for persons with intellectual disabilities over 16 years of age. The Intel - AMBA CEEIC has designed a methodology that uses repetitive PC-based training to enable students with very low IQs to recognize alphabets and words as 'objects' and learn simple data entry skills. The model uses the collective abilities of each individual beneficiary, teaches them a trade within their area of ability and ensures that they contribute collectively to the whole requirement of the mainstream work. Apart from this, most of the training is also imparted by the intellectually challenged themselves and they are able to run the center with minimal supervision. From a modest installation of 10 computers with software and peripherals, this unique technology training lab has today evolved into four centers across the country.

Rahul Bedi, Director, Corporate Affairs, Intel South Asia and India Business Operations Manager, said, "Intel India has been an enthusiastic supporter of the CEEIC project, with the differently abled being a special interest group for us. Along with our NGO partner AMBA, we sought to provide these youths with a fair opportunity to earn a livelihood and lead a life of acceptance and dignity. This award is not only a recognition of Intel and AMBA's efforts, but also an achievement for the special young people who have now become more economically productive members of their family."

The Intel - AMBA CEEIC has a specialized job center where the trained students work independently on actual job projects in a protected environment, enabling them to earn a monthly income. This center also coordinates with external clients and persuades them to provide jobs such as data entry to the trained youths on a regular basis.

Sugandha Sukrutaraj, Author Trustee, Board Member and Director of Social and Economic Empowerment, AMBA, said "Intel's support was amazing and significant in setting up the Intel - AMBA CEEICs. The intellectually challenged community need a fair opportunity to showcase their ability. We hope to work together in the future, to take this initiative to greater heights. Such a corporate – NGO partnership is the logical and most effective way to enhance the lives of the community around us."