Resident helps train disabled youngsters

Mr Matima Serumula, the founder of the Phuthanang Training Centre for the Disabled, started the centre due to the dire need for a safe place for disabled children and youth.

“In all of Tembisa, before the conception of Phuthanang, there were only institutions for young people with mental and physical disabilities, yet their services were limited to a certain age group,” said Mr Serumula.

Mr Serumula took it upon himself to accept disabled people of all ages.

“Without help from these organisations, these young people are abused, work for hours without payment, raped, neglected and misunderstood. I asked the Tembisa Customer Care Centre manager for a venue which could accommodate these children during the day and be returned to their families in the afternoon,” said Mr Serumula.

Based in Kopanong, Phuthanang Training for the Disabled was formed in 2007 and caters for 60 young people with five volunteers.

The young people are taught literacy (languages and numeracy), income generation projects such as flower arrangement, decoration and catering, sporting activities and workshops on life skills.

There are facilitators who teach various groups reading and writing, using different teaching materials.

Mr Serumula said he is hoping to create a new educational environment for the disabled and challenged youngsters, one that will make them employable and acceptable within society.

“I wanted to stop the stigmatisation of people living with disability, and make sure the disabled have and enjoy the same human rights and opportunities like any other person,” said Mr Serumula.

The Phuthanang Centre for the Disabled survives entirely on donations and currently serves more than 100 students.

For more information, contact Mr Matima Serumula on 083 947 2958.