Working on Fire changing lives of the disabled

– Written by Maria Letsholo –

Working on Fire (WoF) has established an initiative to restore the dignity of the disabled. As an expanded public works programme, it also leads to providing integrated fire management at local, provincial, and national levels. They have a skills development mission, which empowers its participants with courses, making a difference in the lives of disabled young men and women in the country.

Tsietsi More is one of Working on Fire’s own who joined the programme in July 2019. He is a storekeeper in Working on Fire’s Boskop base in Potchefstroom, taking care of the equipment in the storeroom. More lives with a disability and says he won’t allow his condition to stop him from dreaming big: “As I was growing up, people assumed that because I was disabled, I was also unfit. My parents knew I was not mentally unfit; I am perfectly fine; I just can’t use my legs. I do not see myself as an abnormal person – I am just living with a disability”, says More.

After completing grade 12, he attended the Boston City Campus and Business College and success-fully passed his IT specialist course. “I want to thank WoF for giving me the opportunity of being part of the family and proving my capabilities and strengths. Thank you, WoF, for believing in me,” says More.