Siby’s Story: The Inclusive Communities project, in partnership with the John Lewis Partnership Foundation 

14 April 2025

For the past year, Sense International and our local partners have been working with the John Lewis Partnership Foundation, who work to help young people in disadvantaged communities to access the education and skills required for sustainable employment. The Inclusive Communities project develops meaningful employment opportunities, enabling young people with deafblindness and complex disabilities in Delhi and Alleppey, like Siby, to earn an income. Vocational training is a major focus of Sense International’s work, representing our shared vision with the John Lewis Partnership Foundation; it is integral in empowering people with deafblindness to develop independence by supporting themselves and their families, and to connect meaningfully with society. 

Whilst the project is far from over, the anniversary presents an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the incredible impact it has had so far. Its aims were to develop the employability skills of teenagers and young adults with deafblindness; to help family members to better understand their needs and support them; and to ensure that trained young adults found employment or became self-employed by learning a local trade. One year in, we are thrilled to have widely exceeded all expectations, supporting a total of 58 young people already and many more family members and businesses beyond that. The family of one trainee, Siby, has seen an incredible transformation. 

Siby’s Story 

Siby is a young adult with deafblindness from Alleppey, India. Limited services in his local area as well as a lack of understanding of his disability meant he reached adulthood without sufficient support for his specific needs, such as speech therapy, which inhibited his ability to develop communication skills or achieve independence in daily life. 

Last year, he was connected with the vocational training programme by a local teacher, and began receiving regular education and training from our partner organisation KSSS. Along with developing communication skills, Siby and his family have learned how to spin yarn from coconut fibres, a leading industry in the region. The vocational trainer has broken down for the family how to lay out materials to facilitate Siby’s individual involvement in the process. Thanks to support from the programme, the family has also received equipment and materials to help them produce yarn in order to sell and earn income. 

Since getting involved, there has been a meaningful change in Siby’s behaviour; he is interested in helping his mother with yarn production, and enjoys going outside more often. 

“This service has significantly benefited our child and improved our lives by offering guidance on establishing a source of income,” his parents said. “We believe this will help us navigate challenges and alleviate financial difficulties. It has brought a sense of reassurance and relief to our family. Siby clearly likes his vocational trainer and educator, feeling happy and at ease in their presence.”  

Siby will continue physiotherapy and communication training, with the aim of establishing him as a skilled tradesperson and empowering him to build his independence and support himself financially. Thanks to the Inclusive Communities project and the ongoing support of the John Lewis Partnership Foundation, Siby and many other young people with deafblindness are achieving progress in their vocational skills, and are on a path to achieving better independence and engagement with their local communities. 

Ongoing Impact 

It has been wonderful to see the growth of the young people like Siby who are involved in the project, and the skilled staff of our partner organisations has enabled many participants to develop their confidence and participate enthusiastically in their work. We have also seen incredible engagement from carers and families. 

What has been truly heartening to see, however, is the ongoing change in local communities. As well as providing training to young people, the project also strives to increase awareness and change perceptions of people with disabilities among local employers and enterprises, reducing stigma and highlighting the role that businesses play in creating inclusive communities. In this the project aims to be truly sustainable in its impact; by actively building relationships with supply chains and changing perceptions, the potential for future success is increased massively. The reach of this disability awareness campaign has far exceeded our expectations; over 60 local vendors have placed orders for products created by young people involved in the project. This demonstrates an extremely positive development in community understandings of disability and signposts a long-term positive change in terms of employment opportunities and outcomes for people we support. 

Visiting the Project 

In February 2025, we welcomed CEO of the John Lewis Partnership Nish Kankiwala along with Venu and Neha from the John Lewis International Sourcing Office in Delhi at the vocational training programme in Delhi with our brilliant partner National Association for the Blind, Delhi. It was a fantastic moment for the team to see firsthand the impact of the project and celebrate our work together. The team met young people who showcased their vocational skills in handicrafts and jewellery, and heard from proud parents too about the confidence and independence their children are building for their futures. 

Thanks to the support of the Foundation, young adults with deafblindness like Siby are able to earn an income and look towards a more inclusive future. We look forward to continuing our partnership and seeing many more young people with deafblindness thrive and reach their full potential. 

If you’d like to find out more about how you can make a difference for young people with deafblindness and their families, visit our Trusts and Foundations page or get in contact with Rosalind.hodgson@sense.org.uk .