PFDA-Vocational Training Center Trust

What PFDA-Vocational Training Center Trust does

PFDA-Vocational Training Center Trust is a Bangladesh-registered non-profit trust founded in 2014 by Ms. Sajida Rahman Danny, headquartered in Dhaka. It operates as the country's first vocational training institute dedicated to adolescents and adults with Neuro-Developmental Disorders (NDDs) — including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and intellectual disability — above 11 years of age. The organization delivers an integrated curriculum spanning pre-vocational training, vocational skills across 14+ trades (jewelry making, block tie-dye, tailoring, computer operation, mobile servicing, food preservation, candle making, shop keeping, etc.), therapeutic support (occupational, speech, sensory, physiotherapy), and life/social/communication skills. Enrollment stands at approximately 200 students, with cumulative outcomes of 2,980+ trainees, 380+ persons placed in employment, and 9,000+ parents counseled since founding.

The core technology underpinning operations is CUMO, a customized student data management system used to track individual student profiles and develop personalized training plans. Beyond training delivery, PFDA-VTC operates three social enterprise arms that double as employer pathways: Angel Chef (Bangladesh's first bakery and pastry brand operated by persons with disabilities, scaled to 9 retail kiosks and 1 open kitchen including placement at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's duty-free shop), Angel Fair (retail brand for trainee-produced goods), and Angel Eco-Paper (a newer initiative producing eco-friendly paper from aquatic plants). Karisma Cultural Organization, a registered cultural group of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, provides music, dance, and drama programming.

The business model combines non-recurring (likely training fees, undisclosed), commercial product sales (bakery, paper), and patron/grant support from a network of 40+ organizations including Bangladesh government ministries, ILO, Aga Khan Development Network, and corporate patrons (Transcom, Standard Chartered, Dhaka Bank, MTB Foundation, Apex Footwear, Swapno). The 2022 MoU with ECCLESTON & HART UK Ltd to establish ECCLESTON & HART (Bangladesh) Ltd for polyester production introduces a profit-sharing joint venture employer model. Go-to-market is community-led: students are reached via parent referrals, government and NGO channels, and outreach events, with employer placement handled through direct corporate partnerships.

Name

PFDA-Vocational Training Center Trust

Legal name

PFDA-Vocational Training Center Trust

Website

https://pfda-vtc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PFDA-Vocational Training Center Trust is a Bangladesh non-profit founded in 2014 operating Bangladesh's first vocational training institute for adolescents and adults with neuro-developmental disorders, serving ~200 students with integrated skills, therapeutic, and social enterprise programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training and Disability Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO), Interpersonal & Relationship Skills (EDABAMAB)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Disability rehabilitation programs
• Special education training
• Life skills training
• Therapeutic support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Vocational Training Services: Provides vocational training to adolescents and adults with neuro-developmental disorders (autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, intellectual disability) above 11 years of age. Revenue may come from training fees, though not publicly disclosed.
2. Angel Chef Bakery Operations: Bangladesh's first bakery and pastry brand run by people with disabilities. Has 9 kiosks and 1 open kitchen. Products marketed under 'Angel Fair' brand.
3. Angel Eco-Paper Project: Production of eco-friendly paper using aquatic plants and other plant wastes - a new project initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

PFDA-Vocational Training Center Trust provides vocational training in 14+ trades (jewelry, tailoring, computer, mobile servicing, baking, etc.), pre-vocational training, therapeutic support (occupational, speech, sensory, physiotherapy), life skills, communication, and cultural programs for adolescents and adults with neuro-developmental disorders above 11 years of age. It supplements training with social enterprises—Angel Chef bakery, Angel Fair products, Angel Eco-Paper, and Karisma Cultural Organization—and partners with employers for graduate placement.

Product overview

PFDA-Vocational Training Center Trust is Bangladesh's first vocational training institute for people with Neuro-Developmental Disorders (NDDs), established in 2014. The organization operates as a unified vocational training center offering multiple integrated programs and social enterprises. The portfolio includes vocational training in trades such as jewelry making, tailoring, computer operation, and food service; therapeutic support services; life skills development; and cultural programs. Social enterprises include Angel Chef (bakery and pastry brand with 9 kiosks and 1 open kitchen), Angel Fair (marketing brand for trainee products), Angel Eco-Paper (eco-friendly paper production), and Karisma Cultural Organization (award-winning cultural group). The organization provides training to persons with autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, and other neurological disabilities, focusing on enabling employment and mainstream social inclusion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 380+ persons with disabilities employed
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• ECCLESTON & HART UK LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 March 2022PFDA-VTC signed MoU with ECCLESTON & HART UK Ltd to establish a company for polyester production (cork sheet). This company will employ persons with disabilities and operate on profit-sharing basis for their welfare. This is Bangladesh's first such initiative.
• Bangladesh Ministry of Social WelfareflagshipOthersGovernment ministry patron providing support and recognition for PFDA-VTC's programs for persons with disabilities.
• Bangladesh Ministry of Cultural AffairscoreOthersGovernment ministry patron supporting cultural programs and activities for persons with neuro-developmental disabilities.
• International Labor Organization (ILO)coreOthersInternational organization providing support and guidance for employment of persons with disabilities.
• Bangladesh Shilpakala AcademycoreOthersGovernment cultural academy that has registered Karisma Cultural Organization (PFDA-VTC's cultural group) as a cultural group.
• Swapno RetailcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail shopping mall that employs graduates from PFDA-VTC program.
• Transcom GroupcoreOthersConglomerate that employs graduates from PFDA-VTC program.
• Apex FootwearminorOthersManufacturing company that employs graduates from PFDA-VTC program.
• Standard Chartered BankminorOthersCorporate patron providing financial support for PFDA-VTC programs.
• Dhaka BankminorOthersCorporate patron providing financial support for PFDA-VTC programs.
• MTB FoundationminorOthersFoundation patron providing support for PFDA-VTC programs.
• PKSFminorOthersPall Karma Sahayak Foundation patron providing support for PFDA-VTC programs.
• Aga Khan Development NetworkminorOthersInternational development network patron providing support for disability programs.
• Bangladesh TelevisionminorOthersNational television channel providing media coverage and support for PFDA-VTC programs.
• Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)minorOthersGovernment investment authority patron supporting employment initiatives for persons with disabilities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Specialisterne: Specialisterne is a Denmark-founded global organization focused on employment and vocational pathways for autistic individuals, with operations across multiple countries. It is a broader incumbent in the NDD employment space, operating at larger scale and across more geographies than PFDA-VTC.
• National Autistic Society: The National Autistic Society is a major UK-based charity providing a wide portfolio of education, employment, and advocacy services for autistic individuals. It operates a comparable mission at significantly larger scale, representing a broad incumbent in the NDD vocational and employment space.

Direct peers

• Muskaan: Muskaan is a New Delhi-based NGO providing education, therapy, and vocational training for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It operates a comparable integrated special-education-to-vocational model serving NDD populations in South Asia.
• Action for Autism: Action for Autism is India's leading non-profit providing educational, vocational, and life-skills programs for autistic individuals, including employer placement. It is a regional peer operating a comparable integrated training-plus-employment model for NDD populations in a South Asian context.
• Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP): CRP is a leading Bangladesh-based non-profit providing physical rehabilitation, therapy, and vocational training for persons with disabilities. It shares PFDA-VTC's mission of rehabilitation-to-employment pathways and operates a similar integrated model in Bangladesh.
• NDD Surakkha Trust: NDD Surakkha Trust is a Bangladesh-based organization referenced in PFDA-VTC's data as running NDD-focused events and competitions. It operates in the same Bangladeshi NDD advocacy and program space and serves an overlapping beneficiary population.
• Proyash: Proyash is Bangladesh's largest dedicated school for children with autism, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and down syndrome, providing special education, therapy, and life skills training. It is the most directly comparable Bangladesh-based organization serving the same NDD population with similar educational and therapeutic programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pfda-vocational-training-n-employment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PFDA-Vocational Training Center Trust