SEKGELE BRINGS OUT BEST IN PWDS Floridah Batshabeng reporting for BOPA A group of elderly people with disabilities (PWDs), caregivers and traditional leaders in Gumare have formed a community based organization called Sekgele Training Home Society (STHS) to assist other PWDs in removing barriers that they face in their day to day lives. Speaking in an interview, the coordinator of the society, Mr Gosalamang Xaa said PWDs face challenges in education, health care, employment, political decision making and other spheres of life. He said the organisation wants to improve the lives of the disabled in the Okavango sub-district and spread the message all over the country. Mr Xaa revealed that STHS currently has 100 members comprised of 70 women and 30 men and spread out among all villages in the Okavango sub-district. “Our members are engaged in various empowerment projects such as sewing and beading,” he said. The organisation received P100 000 in funding from Non State Actors Capacity Building Projectors (NSA CBP), through the assistance of the European Union (EU), to conduct a research study, develop a strategic plan and train staff and board members on leadership and governance. The Department of Gender Affairs provided additional funding amounting to P235,000 mainly for construction of a sewing workshop. “We have an agreement with the Social and Community Development (S&CD) department through which we supply them with school uniforms. A self-help fund of P30,000 from the United States embassy was also used for beadwork income generating projects for PWDs in Shakawe, Sepopa, Gumare and Tubu. The project, called ‘Beads for Hope’ has 10 members in each of the villages. Mr Xaa also revealed that they received funding of about P511,370 to build a stimulation centre in Gumare from the Ministry of Health for the year 2013/2014. The Ministry further approved 12 positions in the society and provided follow up funding of P825 497 for the year 2014/2015 to establish the stimulation centre. Mr Xaa said the 12 positions included the coordinator, administration officer, accounts clerk, two teacher aides, two cooks, cleaner, handyman, pre-school teacher, social worker or counsellor and the medical rehabilitation technician. “The purpose of the centre is to offer pre-academic education to the disabled and orphans aged 0-7 years to prepare them for Standard one and also to offer rehabilitation services to PWDs,” he said. Mr Xaa said their research has established that a lot of PWDs are abandoned and sidelined by society. He added that it is high time for PWDs to be revealed to the wider society so that they can mingle and socialise with the able bodied. “PWDs must be able to seek assistance from society. They must be able to carry out the day to day activities and perform some duties at home,” he said.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:24:13 +0000
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