More possibilities are being explored to economically empower people with disabilities in Bloemfontein.
This is undertaken in the hope that they will become self-reliant.
The two centres involved are the Boitekong Protective Workshop for people with intellectual disability older than 18 years and the Kopano Protective Workshop, for the physically disabled.
The Kopano workshop does training and offers participants skills development programmes, productivity and job placement.
The Boitekong workshop, funded by the Department of Social Development, is located in Batho.
This is a centre that equips people with skills to produce items ranging from handbags to blankets and furniture made from recyclable material such used plastic bags and old umbrellas. Most of them have been trained to produce handmade products, acquiring skills ranging from sewing to beading.
People at these centres are encouraged to utilise their skills to access opportunities offered by the different government departments.
To economically empower them, the Free State Department of Social Development, jointly with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, afforded these centres an opportunity to exhibit a range of products on 18 February to attract the interest of potential financial roleplayers. These entities include the National Youth Development Agency (Nyda), the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa), the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF).
Nomalungelo Gina, deputy minister for Trade, Industry and Competition, as well as MEC for Social Development Mamiki Qabathe and Motshewa Tladi, member of the Mangaung mayoral committee, have rallied support for these centres to get financial assistance.
