Wearable Creative Centre integrates the able and the disabled

“The element of creative arts is a much easier and softer way to  integrate the able and disabled people”

This is what John Mbulaheni, Creative Director and Chairperson of Wearable Creative Centre strongly believes and also one of the reasons that the centre will be hosting a workshop for the people of Soweto Chesire Home- a home for the disabled- from February 20th till March 20th.

The workshop will focus on teaching skills in the creation of artistic works using ceramic and establishing a sustainable business using these works.

This is a follow-up workshop of the 303 Creative Art Expo event (the 3’s stand for November 3- December 3, International, a month for people with disabilities) that was held last year.

“Basically what we are trying to do is to raise awareness about economic opportunities for the community of people with disabilities because there’s this stigma that states that when you have a disability you cannot be economically active,” said Mbulaheni.

“I believe that being economically active creates social cohesion because it makes people from two different communities, the able and the disabled work together,” added Mbulaheni.

Mbulaheni believes that stigmatisation begins at home when families of people with disabilities isolate individuals living with disabilities.

“People with disabilities have to interact with other able people, that is why we want children from our centre to interact with other children in the community”