Open Mind, Open Hearts

Gym at Frösunda
Three weeks ago I have started a routine to visit the gym at Frösunda with Pia. Those of you who know me know that I am not fond of the gym. It doesn’t help when in the gym, I  have the intelligence level of a laboratory mouse. All I could do was get on the threadmill, turn it on (hopefully with least help possible) and try not to run off the threadmill. But Pia succeeded to convince me to join her - I still don’t know how she managed!

So off we went to Frösunda. But the gym at Frösunda had no threadmill! What am I going to do?

Open Mind, Open Hearts
Pia and I first met when we were in Karlskrona. She works in Human resources (HR) in Telenor Sweden, and she is responsible for the Open Mind programme in Telenor Sweden.

The Open Mind programme is a trainee programme for physically challenged people as well as people with sight and hearing challenges. The objective of the programme is to give the participants the opportunity to get valuable experience that will strengthen their chances to gain access to working life, through relevant work practice and training.

The programme as a springboard
The programme is supposed to function as a springboard into working life, for people with physical challenges. It is also an opportunity to sort out what the participant need when it comes to supporting material and adaptations of the working environment, for example using and adapting computers and MS Office as a working tool.

The programme was first launched in Norway in 1996 as Telenor’s Handicap Programme and changed its name to Telenor Open Mind in 2007. Since the start, 75 per cent of the participants have after the programme secured a full-time job in Telenor or in other companies.

Evaluation from independent research organisation
In 2006, SINTEF, an independent research organisation in Scandinavia, performed an evaluation of the programme, drawing the conclusion that it had been a success, not only for individual users, but also for society at large. SINTEF has estimated that the net socio-economic gain from the programme amounts to approximately NOK 100 million. Read more about the report here: http://telenor.no/openmind/TelenorHCPReport_en.pdf

The trainees’ experiences
The programme has now also been introduced in Sweden and in Malaysia. At DiGi it is known as Open Mind, Open Hearts (OMOH). Here’s what the participants have to say about the Open Mind / Open Mind, Open Hearts programme in the different countries:

Telenor Norway http://telenor.no/openmind/english/everydaystories/oneofthem/
Telenor Sweden http://www.telenor.se/4333.jsp
DiGi http://press.telenor.com/PR/200804/1205462_5.html

Contact us
In Sweden, the new Open Mind programme will start in Autumn 2008.  Find out more about the Open Mind programme in Sweden (in Swedish).

You can also find out about the Open Mind programme in English.

So you see, the Global Trainee Programme is not the only trainee programme that is conducted in Telenor. If you know of any friends or family who will benefit from the Open Mind programme, spread the word! Feel free to send us an e-mail if you have any question

Telenor Norway: Ingrid Ihme ingrid.ihme@telenor.com
Telenor Sweden: Pia Torstensson pia.torstensson@telenor.se
DiGi: Cheryl Mohan cherylmo@digi.com.my

Back to Frösunda
So back to my trip to the gym at Frösunda. The gym here is catered for people on wheelchairs. It is also like a physiotherapy centre - there is a kitchen, tv lounge and resting area. Pia and I usually stay a little later to watch the men play rugby in their special wheelchairs. Most of the players also represent the national team. These guys are fast and tough…you don’t want to mess with them!

Innebandy at Skärholmen
On Wednesday Pia invited me to play innebandy at Skärholmen.  I think in English it is called floorball, but  sometimes we call it indoor hockey because it looks like one. The last time I played hockey was ten years ago when I was in school. We played hockey in the school field, but I guess that is not popular here. Most Swedes will think of ice hockey when it comes to the game.

There is, however, a twist to the game. This is where I first experience how to use a wheelchair. At first I thought it was easy to learn how to move in a wheelchair. But then came the balancing act of wheeling myself, swinging my hockey stick and not crashing into each other (and not apologising because there is not time for it!).

Not all of us in the game use a wheelchair in our everyday life. This experience has got me reflecting quite a bit on the way home after the game. It wasn’t so much about the challenges one faces when one has to use a wheelchair. That we already know. It’s more about what one can do irregardless if one is in a wheelchair or has sight and hearing challenges. Just like all of us, people with physical challenges live, learn, laugh and contribute to society. And to have done that side by side together with my friends in wheelchairs, is one of the best things that has happened to me.