Founder of the Alexandra Disability Movement, Jerry Ntimbane who is also living with a disability, told visiting Engen employees that ‘disability does not mean inability’.
He was thanking the staffers of the petroleum company for their generosity in taking time off their busy schedule to see how people with disabilities live and also help them start a vegetable garden on their site.
Besides greening the gardens of the movement situated in 161 9th Road, Kew, the Engen employees, under the command of its corporate social investment manager, Mntu Nduvane, donated a cheque of R30 000 and left behind some beanies, scarves, blankets, ponchos, garden equipment, pots, linen and some groceries.
The employees put their gardening skills to use by revamping the centre’s vegetable garden and planting a variety of vegetables and herbs, which Ntimbane said will go a long way in making the movement self-reliant. He explained that the movement was a non-profit organisation run by the disabled for the disabled. “This is what sets us apart from other organisations.”
With that in mind, Ntimbane said the movement also focuses on training fellow disabled people to be self-supporting. “We do this through three key projects which are the Self Help Association of the Disabled in Alexandra; the Pillsbury Day Care Centre; and the Thuthukani School for the Blind.”
Engen’s general manager for corporate affairs, Tasneem Sulaiman-Bray said the company was encouraged and inspired by its employees who gave of their time to volunteer. “We thank our employees for being ambassadors of our brand and reinforcing our ongoing commitment to co-create an equitable society where persons with disabilities can share access to every sphere of educational, work and social life.
“It is through our small contribution that we hope to forge a future that is inclusive of all people and creates conditions where dreams can be achieved and a brighter future for all South Africans can be manifested.”
Also read: No more backaches for Pillsbury staff
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