SEBOKENG. – After acquiring skills in various fields including cleaning, beauty, and construction, some learners from the Thabo Vuyo Resource Centre are ready to enter the workplace. The school caters for children with mental challenges.

This was revealed recently by the chief occupational therapist Elzabe du Plessis. According to Du Plessis, the school used the additional budget provided by the Department of Education to train learners with mild to moderate conditions in these fields as a way to give them an opportunity to earn a living and become independent.

“We have some short courses that learners attended and we also have a leadership that ran for 18 months which will end this month.

“We would just like to give awareness that although our learners are mentally disabled, they are still able to work. Our children’s disabilities range from mild to moderate and high support. 15 learners were trained at various guest houses and accommodation and they were able to do very well. They will get an accredited certificate in accommodation services.”
Other learners were trained in hair and beauty, basic construction skills, tiling, painting, and agriculture.

Du Plessis says the centre is looking for companies that are willing to come on board and give the learners employment opportunities.

“We would like companies that have opportunities in these fields and are willing to employ people with disabilities an opportunity to contact us. What we will do from our side is to give guidance to the companies on how to deal with children that are severely mentally challenged.”

Du Plessis says the objective behind this initiative is to ensure that those with skills and who are able to work do not go back home and sit without anything constructive to do. Companies interested can email Du Plessis on 084 500 0668.