20 Jan 2014

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has been commended for organising a YES boot camp for people living with disabilities.

The Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri, said this at the graduation ceremony of the YES Disability Camp  in Molepolole on January 18. He said the boot camp for PWDs was a testimony of government’s continued efforts of creating enabling environment for all. He also said it was an indication that the PWD agenda was bearing fruit.

He said the programme was initiated after the ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture realised that participation of youth living with disabilities was low in YES boot camps. Mr Matlhabaphiri also explained that the YES boot camp was an onsite training targeting youths living with disabilities that upon completion of the training would be taken through a YES attachment program as office interns.

“They will be paid living allowances, as is the case with all other YES boot camp graduates. The program has targeted 3000 young people living with disabilities per annum and to date four similar camps were run with a total of 435 youth living with disabilities, out of which 334 have been successfully placed as workplace interns,” he said.

Mr Matlhabaphiri further said the programme served as a platform for social inclusion and integration into the economic mainstream and is directed by the National Youth Policy in particular, Youth and Employment, Youth and Poverty and Disability.

“To young people with disability I wish to say, you are not alone. You have skills and talents that can be harnessed for the betterment of your lives. The government cares about you and the government is committed to your welfare,” Mr Matlhaphiri said.

For her part, the Deputy Director for YES program, Ms Boitshepo Bolele revealed that out of 300 targeted young people living with disabilities Kweneng District, only 150 were engaged in the current program mostly residing in Molepolole and surrounding areas like Sesung, Letlhakeng and Takatotwane.  

She said the five day boot camp was well conducted, as there were no issues of absconding from exercises or prohibited visitors to the camp. She also commended the Office of the President through the unit of the Disability Office for donating three wheelchairs during the event. “We are grateful for the wheelchairs as we did not know how to handle others as they came crawling here,” Ms Bolele said.

One of the participants, Khutsafalo Lekalake said the training was of first class as they were taught about good hygiene and different exercises that will enable them to work in the outside world. “I want to emphasise to my fellow participants that you should know that this program is not employment but an internship that you have to learn from and later be independent,” Ms Lekalake said.

At least 300 youths graduated and awarded certificates. ENDS