Disabled student, 22, without legs inundated with job offers after being rejected by employers
- 5 years ago
A disabled student who was rejected by employers can now follow his dream of being a mechanic after searching online for work and being inundated with job offers.
Chatree Konwatcharathada, 22, was born without any lower limbs and only two fingers on his right hand. He grew up in a remote mountain tribe before moving to Mae Hong Son, northern Thailand 10 years ago.
The youngster was not daunted by his mobility problems and followed his childhood dream of working on motorcycles by studying to be a mechanic.
Yet despite completing the course and offering to work for free to prove himself, Chatreewas rejected by countless firms when he applied for apprenticeships because of his disability
Chatree's college offered him an internal internship within the school, but Chatree refused the ''special treatment'' and continued applying for roles at active businesses.
The young man has now been inundated with job offers after one of his posts seeking work in an online job hunters group was noticed earlier this week.
Chatree wrote: "I am a junior mechanic student who needs an apprenticeship. I am looking for a company who will let me work without thinking of me as a handicapped person.
"I am willing to do the work like all the other students. I can perform all the maintenance tasks just as well as other students. My disability will not be a problem."
Chatree said he was delighted with the response and now wants to work and fulfil his dream of being a mechanic.
He said: ''I might be disabled but I need to work like everybody else and to earn a living. How can I eat without a job?
''I love being a mechanic and can do it to an excellent standard. I study very hard and learn every detail.
''I'm happy now that people are finally giving me a chance to have a job. I will show how well I can work.''
Chatree received numerous offers from companies, mechanic shops and also the national oil and gas company conglomerate, PTT, after his story spread online.
College principal Thitima Rojwatcharapibal said all the students had been trained equally - and that Chatree had proved to be just as capable as the others.
She said: "We do not look upon disability as a problem here. There might be some changes needed to match the ability of Chatree, but overall the courses are all the same.
"He has been showing his ability to study and train like the other student, and that made me believe that he could succeed in his future programs.''
Officers from the country's Department of Empowerment for Person with Disabilities are now planning to meet Chatree to help with funding for his future job searches.
The footage was captured on September 23.
Chatree Konwatcharathada, 22, was born without any lower limbs and only two fingers on his right hand. He grew up in a remote mountain tribe before moving to Mae Hong Son, northern Thailand 10 years ago.
The youngster was not daunted by his mobility problems and followed his childhood dream of working on motorcycles by studying to be a mechanic.
Yet despite completing the course and offering to work for free to prove himself, Chatreewas rejected by countless firms when he applied for apprenticeships because of his disability
Chatree's college offered him an internal internship within the school, but Chatree refused the ''special treatment'' and continued applying for roles at active businesses.
The young man has now been inundated with job offers after one of his posts seeking work in an online job hunters group was noticed earlier this week.
Chatree wrote: "I am a junior mechanic student who needs an apprenticeship. I am looking for a company who will let me work without thinking of me as a handicapped person.
"I am willing to do the work like all the other students. I can perform all the maintenance tasks just as well as other students. My disability will not be a problem."
Chatree said he was delighted with the response and now wants to work and fulfil his dream of being a mechanic.
He said: ''I might be disabled but I need to work like everybody else and to earn a living. How can I eat without a job?
''I love being a mechanic and can do it to an excellent standard. I study very hard and learn every detail.
''I'm happy now that people are finally giving me a chance to have a job. I will show how well I can work.''
Chatree received numerous offers from companies, mechanic shops and also the national oil and gas company conglomerate, PTT, after his story spread online.
College principal Thitima Rojwatcharapibal said all the students had been trained equally - and that Chatree had proved to be just as capable as the others.
She said: "We do not look upon disability as a problem here. There might be some changes needed to match the ability of Chatree, but overall the courses are all the same.
"He has been showing his ability to study and train like the other student, and that made me believe that he could succeed in his future programs.''
Officers from the country's Department of Empowerment for Person with Disabilities are now planning to meet Chatree to help with funding for his future job searches.
The footage was captured on September 23.