Encouraging Supported Employment
The Starfish Enterprises Training Center opened under the umbrella of ECC in 2013 with 11 trainees. Three other graduates of ECC have been added since that time.
Starfish Enterprises is one of the first facilities of this type in the Bahamas and is being considered by the National Disabilities Commission as a model for other programs throughout the Bahamas.
While at the workshop, the trainees continue to enhance work skills as well as independent life skills, communication and socialization. These young adults with challenges are productive and happy. The workshop also serves as a pre-vocational skills training area for our other students in order to implement early emphasis on effective functional skills.
Utensil packets and handmade soap is produced in the workshop for purchase. The utensil packets are sealed plastic packs containing fork, knife, napkin, salt and pepper which the trainees create in an assembly line fashion. The handmade soaps are molded and beautifully wrapped with many different colors and scents to choose from.
Recently opened adjacent to Starfish Enterprises is the ECC Gift Shop where the soap is sold in addition to gift items made by the students in sewing, woodworking and art classes. In holding to our Green School status, an emphasis is placed on the use of recycled materials and the results are quite spectacular.
Our gift shop is open to the public daily and is run by volunteers and Starfish Enterprises trainees.
The trainees are quite proud of their work and are happy to receive visitors to acquaint them with their products.
Social Enrichment
Human connection is a very important aspect of developing social behaviour for persons special needs. Every month our trainees engage in a social gathering that includes playing sports, indoor games, grill, karaoke and other fun activities, This provides them enriching experience which they wholeheartedly and needs.