#BeBoldForChange. Support KHAAS: A Travel Agency Run By Blind Girls
Khaas Travels : Creating opportunities for the marginalised
About KHAAS
Khaas is India’s first travel company run by blind women and acid-attack survivors only. Khaas manager and founder, Akash Bhardwaj wants to train and employ more blind women, acid attack survivors, HIV positive people who have a lot to offer but often are passed on as candidates.
He believes this will bring the marginalized into the mainstream and create a successful business model. Khaas has five blind women who have undergone training using JAWS (Job Access With Speech), a screen reader software. They successfully manage all the in-house operations at Khaas.
How was Khaas created:
'Khaas' means special in Hindi was started with Akash's own funds in April, 2016. The idea came from a chance encounter with an acid-attack survivor that Akash had at the market. The said lady was selling balloons. Akash was very impressed by how well-spoken she was and her great marketing skills.
After the acid attack, her employer had shown her the door and her husband abandoned her. Having been a corporate trainer himself, he could see that she was full of potential and was very inspired to do better in her life.
He realised that qualified people like her - acid attack survivors, HIV positive people and visually impaired people - didn't need sympathy as much as some training and a safe, normal workspace. Thus, Khaas was born.
The Challenges:
- The current office space is not disabled-friendly i.e. it is extremely small and located on the fourth floor in a congested area.
- More staff and lesser computers. Essential softwares like JAWS are expensive and are a must for the girls to be able to use any screen devices.
- The above challenges mean, fewer clients are met directly affecting the company's income.
How your money will be utilized :
- Khaas will hire more employees and train them. Apart from blind people, acid-attack survivors and HIV positive people who will participate in closing more deals, thus generating more income for the company.
- A disabled-friendly office space for a staff of 30-40 people.
- Computers (laptop), phones and essential software’s for Khaas staff.
- A lady driver and a second-hand car to make travel convenient for our blind employees.
Akash has over 12 years of experience in HR and Training. He has also worked as a freelance travel agent. Using his own funds, he started Khaas in April, 2016 with a view to provide a platform for marginalised people. He is training them further to meet clients and give presentations. He believes in imparting skills and providing them with tools to become self-reliant.
Khaas has been featured in 50+ media platforms and have also received the Karmaveer Chakra from Rex and iCongo United Nation.
Thank you for all the support. Now the team is working on customized gifts for Diwali purpose, we purchased some raw material from the market like dry fruits plates, lights, flowers, matki, and other miscellaneous decoration items. After that, we create different kinds of customized gifts from those items.
Here are some of the samples images, if anyone needs these gifts then contact Team KHAAS. Please visit www.khaas.co.in for more of those products.
Thank you once again. Please do share this campaign further with your friends and family.
Regards,
Akash.
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Supporters (99)
Great work done by Akash. I sincerely wish this initiative of his is a great success and Khaas is able to help and support a lot of women in in the future.
Great work!!! Carry it on.
Your share could help raise $100
