14 Nov 2016

People living with disabilities (PDWs) continue to find it hard to get employment or other economic empowering opportunities.

This came out during a stakeholder’s consultative meeting at Camphill Community Trust in Otse on November 11.

The stakeholders learnt that even after being given life skills, people living with disabilities are not being absorbed.  

Therefore, some participants  suggested that  there is need to support  companies that employ people with disabilities while others opined that there is need for a legal framework that would guide  empowering people with disabilities.

In her presentation, rehabilitation specialist Ms Wetsho Mosarwe said  some companies have raised concerns  that employing people with disabilities could be risky as they deal with dangerous equipments and substances which required to be handled with due diligence.

Ms Mosarwe pointed out that most people with disabilities even though some have been trained are jobless and the Livelihood projects aim is to empower them further.

“We want to empower them to find employment and sustainable livelihoods in the community,” she added.

She said Camphill Community Trust is working with Bothakga Primary School special education unit in Lobatse to empower the disadvantaged, adding that the programme has the backing of the parents who raised concerns that people living with disabilities are not being empowered.

Ms Mosarwe said through the Livelihoods Projects, they intend to help people with disabilities so that there is increased income, improved well-being, reduced vulnerability and improved food security.

Earlier in his remarks, director of Camphill Community Trust Mr Andreas Groth said they provide education, training and care for people with disabilities.

He said their education system start at Rankoromane, which caters for learners from five years to 14 years before they progress to Legodimo Youth Training, for an outcome based training.

The leaners end their journey at Motse wa Badiri which also offer vocational and outcome based training to prepare leaners for outside world. ends