KwaThema – The disabled of Kopano Disability Movement design beads and repair bibles and worn-out books to keep their centre alive.
They sell their artworks to the residents to generate funds to sustain the centre.
The initiative was formed 22 years ago to address the needs of the centre and fight for the rights of the disabled in the community.
Sthembiso Mndebele says through the artworks they are also empowering each other by sharing the skills.
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“We want all our members to have a skill which will help improve their lives.
“We also teach some of our members who are illiterate how to read and write to enable them to read their private letters and sign documents,” he says.
Sthembiso says the centre is home to 55 members who are from Kwatsaduza and the surrounding areas.
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“At the moment we don’t receive any funding from government but depend on donations from the private sector and locals.
“One of the biggest challenges we are facing is transportation for the members to the centre from their homes.
“Many of our members depend on a disability grant to support their families.
“They cannot afford to travel to and from the centre daily.
“We are calling on the government and the private sector to assist us by donating a taxi to transport our members,” he says.
Mokhulo Mofokeng says he is sharing his skills of working with leather with the members.
“We decided to start designing book covers, especially bibles targeting local churchgoers.
“We use their small donations as petty cash for the general running of the centre,” he says.
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