Sightsavers seek to empower people living with disabilities

SIGHTSAVERS, a non-governmental organisation in conjunction with the Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe (FODPZ), has embarked on a programme to economically empower people living with disabilities (PWD).

The NGO has started with a training workshop for people with disabilities (PWDs) and is discouraging begging or relying on handouts.

The workshop, which started on Monday, is aimed at equipping PWDs with the necessary tools to sustain themselves.

FODPZ project officer for economic development, Ms Tanatswa James said the project seeks to capacitate 360 PWDs so that they can be absorbed into formal employment and entrepreneurship.

“This project is meant to capacitate about 360 PWDs with skills that can enable them to get employment or start their own businesses. They go through online classes on business skills training. After training they will be required to produce bankable business plans which we will take to financial institutions to seek loans,” she said.

Ms James said one of the key aspects of the workshop involves pairing PWDs with established business mentors.
“This mentorship programme will provide guidance and support for six months, assisting participants in launching or growing their business ventures,” she said.

Sightsavers project officer for economic empowerment, Mr Nicholas Nicodemus said it is important to kill some PWDs’ culture of begging or seeking handouts.

“As a society, we have to move away from the charity model of dealing with PWDs as it is no longer sustainable. We are now pursuing the leaving no one behind narrative and that includes PWDs. If they do not actively participate in the economic development of the society then we have left them behind,” he said.

Mr Nicodemus said the nation should lobby for PWDs inclusion in the same way it lobbied for gender inclusion.
“Lets use the same force and energy to lobby for PWDs inclusion in all economic and other activities.

Now when organisations are hiring, they always encourage women to apply and the same should be extended to PWDs,” he said.

Mr Nicodemus also highlighted the need for increased inclusivity within the workplace. Businesses were urged to embrace diversity and actively encourage qualified PWDs to apply.

One of the mentors for the programme, a mechanic and farmer, Mr Gift Jele who is living with albinism said the programme is a step in the right direction. He urged the participants to take the project back to their communities and empower other PWDs.

“Programmes like these are very good and I always want to participate in them. I also urge fellow participants to share the knowledge gained from these workshops with those who were not able to get the opportunity,” said Mr Jele.

“These organisations are doing their best to empower us and we should complement these efforts by teaching others.”

Mr Thandolwenkosi Dlamini said he was confident that the training coupled with the mentorship programme will improve his economic status.

“I went through skills training and now I am learning from my mentor Mr Jele. What excites me is that we are both mechanics and farmers,” he said.