Disabled people sharpen skills through sewing programme
The programme is for people with disabilities to learn skills to find jobs or create their own businesses.
An organisation in Mamelodi has partnered with Tshwane Disability Unity to alleviate poverty for people living with disabilities through sewing training.
Peter Baloyi, chairperson of Tlakukani Disability Empowerment Projects, said the sewing training is a beginner-friendly programme officially that was launched on Tuesday at Ikageng Community Hall.
Tlakukani was launched last July as a non-profit organisation and is aimed at addressing obstacles persons with disabilities face almost every day.
It is currently based at Padi Street, house 28460, in Mamelodi East Ext 5.
Being all about the rights of people with disabilities, it wants to encourage families to stop hiding disabled people and bring them to Ikageng to learn development skills.
Baloyi said the programme is for people with disabilities, and started with needle and thread training and how to make cushions.
“At this moment, there are 37 participants in the programme, one sewing machine, and one volunteer who helps with training,” he said.
The idea is to alleviate poverty through skills development and entrepreneurship programmes.
He said the programme aims to empower people with disabilities to start their own businesses and have a secondary income.
Baloyi added that they want to assist people with disabilities with job skills and entrepreneur programmes.
He said the obstacles families with people with disabilities face include a lack of accessible information and unequal access to education and training, as well as negative attitudes, which are often linked to discrimination.
The organisation has established an information desk to help people living with disabilities, educate the public, and promote disability rights.
Baloyi added that they have implemented health and wellness programmes.
“We are calling all organisations dealing with disabilities to come on board to come and work with the organisation to help people with disabilities not to depend on social grant money.”
Tlakukani believes that people with disabilities have potential, and can do anything with their lives like any non-disabled person, such as find jobs, participate in different sports activities, and start their own businesses. It wants to help people with disabilities to come out and do something with their lives.
Baloyi said they desperately need volunteers and donations of sewing machines as well as food, as the training is held from Monday to Friday.
Anyone who wishes to learn more can contact the chairperson at 082 627 5152.
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