SEMINAR « Inclusive Employment » Vientiane, 7 – 11 October 2013

• Who I am ?Who I am ? My name is OL Soveasna. I have been working for Handicap International in Cambodia since October 2012 as TIGA II Programme Manager. I graduated bachelor degree on general management in 2006, then master degree on development studies in 2009.

• I am an expert / specialist in small business I am an expert / specialist in small business development. development. Spending more than 7 years working Spending more than 7 years working with vulnerable poor people to improve their economic with vulnerable poor people to improve their economic status, I have learnt a lot about micro and small status, I have learnt a lot about micro and small business development in Cambodian context. To date, business development in Cambodian context. To date, nearly a thousand of people including people with nearly a thousand of people including people with disabilities received my support in various way from disabilities received my support in various way from business management to technical training.business management to technical training.

• To which question would you like this seminar to answer?Business development for poor people are quite challenging but it is even

harder to work with people with disabilities. They are facing more challenges including inaccessible environment, discrimination or over-protection by family members. Building characteristics of an entrepreneur is not easy in most cases in which creativity and risk taking are often lost in the process. Therefore, I would like to learn from this seminar in:

1. Building characteristics of an entrepreneur among people with disabilities and their family.

2. Getting access to financial services for business expansion.

3. Tested adapted tools for specific disability.

SEMINAR « Inclusive Employment » Vientiane, 7 – 11 October 2013

• What are the main challenges / stakes for the future in inclusive employment project ?

Challenges for the future in inclusive employment project could be:

1. Accessible services: It is most likely that many vocational training institutions and service providers will not be able to provide services at an accessible accommodation in the near future. It requires commitment from top level managers, for instance large service providers like MFIs and government institutions.

2. Adapted materials: Because different impairments require different solution, it is likely that service providers will not be able to adapt their materials to suits all people with different impairment. It will be harder for local service providers for the facts that their running costs are not fully covered and always face the risk of closure at anytime.

3. Getting market information: To put business in good status, it needs growth and flexible to the market. ASEAN free market integration in 2015 will shape new markets among the region. The project must be adopted to the change; and so the people with disabilities but to what extend is not predictable at the moment.

SEMINAR « Inclusive Employment » Vientiane, 7 – 11 October 2013