GiGi U Launches Fall 2020 Class

 

New GiGi U students for Fall 2020

On Monday, September 28, four students gathered in GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne, marking the start of the Fall 2020 GiGi U semester. These students will strive towards independence during this 15-week instructional program. GiGi U is designed to motivate adults with Down syndrome to achieve their highest potential in the real world while developing their abilities in the areas of wellness, communication and career skills. The skills gained at GiGi U will resonate with graduates throughout their careers.

As a signature Career Development program at GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne, GiGi U helps individuals achieve the following goals:

  • Increase self-confidence:   The GiGi U learning program is an environment where each lesson promotes communication skills, self-advocacy and personal accountability through goal-oriented activities.  These activities help to significantly improve meaningful family, friends and community interactions as well as further promoting independence. 
  • Increase career skill knowledge:   GiGi U teaches students appropriate and proactive work place behaviors by applying best practices in areas of customer service and team building.
  • Increase personal wellness:   Through physical fitness, nutrition and safety awareness training, GiGi U students gain a stronger sense of the importance of remaining active and making choices that promote and sustain a lifelong healthy lifestyle. 
  • Increased  quality of life:  GiGi U provides a hands on, multi-sensory learning environment to help students live a well-rounded, healthy, confident and fully enriching life.  Depending less on those around them and by promoting their voice, students improved their presence inside and out of the GiGi’s community.

After graduation, our GiGi U students will continue their career development in our Genesis Health Bar. Ultimately, our goal is to help our graduate secure meaningful volunteer and employment opportunities with organizations outside of GiGi’s Playhouse.

How can you help?
Our GiGi U program is supported by the generosity of our community and volunteers. We hope you’ll consider helping our GiGi U graduates and Genesis Health Bar Ambassadors by:
Volunteering: Give your time to assist in the GiGi U classroom. Register online to be considered for GiGi U volunteer opportunities.
Employing an Ambassador: Following graduation and an internship in GiGi U, our graduates will look for career opportunities in Fort Wayne. We’re always looking for placement opportunities for our GiGi U graduates. To partner with GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne, please contact Mandy Drakeford.
Donating: Our GiGi U program, along with all of our free purposeful programs, are 100 percent funded by the generosity of our community. We hope you will consider donating to provide essential career development opportunities for adults with Down syndrome.

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