The Office of the Premier and a number of partners yesterday officially launched a training programme in information and communication technology (ICT) for youths with disabilities.
Presenting the six-month programme at the Great Kei Disability Multipurpose Centre in Soto Village, Mooiplaas, assistant director of special projects Lumka Nokekela said the programme would be rolled out in three municipalities – Amathole and OR Tambo district municipalities and Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan municipality.
The other stakeholders involved include the Education, Training, Development Practice-Sector Education and Training Authority and the Lovedale Further Vocational and Education Training College.
“We have grouped individuals according to their disabilities – in OR Tambo we will train the deaf. In Nelson Mandela Bay we will be training the blind and partially blind, and in the Great Kei we have taken people with physical disabilities,” said Nokekela.
Amos Mzimeli, a beneficiary of the programme, said the training would enable the youths to enter the labour market.
“It is extremely difficult for a disabled person to find employment, especially when they have no skills to present. Now this programme will give us the confidence to go out into the world and compete for our space in the employment market, starting from the same ground as an able person.”
In Great Kei the programme started with 20 learners and is facilitated by the Lovedale college. Participants will receive monthly stipends for the duration of the training to assist with their transport costs.
Learnership and skills coordinator Lizzy Kosani said the programme had exposed a scarcity of trained teachers for people living with disabilities in the province.
Kosani added the programme was designed in such a way that when it ended in November participants would be able to carry out basic secretarial work. “By the time we release these learners they will be ready for administration jobs, and even training some community members on what they have learnt,” said Kosani.
Nokekela said: “This training aims to create independence amongst these vulnerable groups as they face marginalisation and socio-economic challenges far greater than their peers...without disabilities.” — simthandilef@dispatch.co.za
ICT course for youths with disabilities
Presenting the six-month programme at the Great Kei Disability Multipurpose Centre in Soto Village, Mooiplaas, assistant director of special projects Lumka Nokekela said the programme would be rolled out in three municipalities – Amathole and OR Tambo district municipalities and Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan municipality.
The other stakeholders involved include the Education, Training, Development Practice-Sector Education and Training Authority and the Lovedale Further Vocational and Education Training College.
“We have grouped individuals according to their disabilities – in OR Tambo we will train the deaf. In Nelson Mandela Bay we will be training the blind and partially blind, and in the Great Kei we have taken people with physical disabilities,” said Nokekela.
Amos Mzimeli, a beneficiary of the programme, said the training would enable the youths to enter the labour market.
“It is extremely difficult for a disabled person to find employment, especially when they have no skills to present. Now this programme will give us the confidence to go out into the world and compete for our space in the employment market, starting from the same ground as an able person.”
In Great Kei the programme started with 20 learners and is facilitated by the Lovedale college. Participants will receive monthly stipends for the duration of the training to assist with their transport costs.
Learnership and skills coordinator Lizzy Kosani said the programme had exposed a scarcity of trained teachers for people living with disabilities in the province.
Kosani added the programme was designed in such a way that when it ended in November participants would be able to carry out basic secretarial work. “By the time we release these learners they will be ready for administration jobs, and even training some community members on what they have learnt,” said Kosani.
Nokekela said: “This training aims to create independence amongst these vulnerable groups as they face marginalisation and socio-economic challenges far greater than their peers...without disabilities.” — simthandilef@dispatch.co.za
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