Chairperson of Ithabeleng Organisation for Disability Thomas Mahlatji has called on corporates to either partner or sponsor his organisation so it can achieve the objectives and targets it has set itself.
Speaking in an interview with Alex News, Mahlatji said, “All these noble objectives are hampered by a lack of funding and hence my call to the corporate world to partner or sponsor us so we can execute our dream to see more and more disabled children going to school and eventually graduating with qualifications that will enable them to play their part in the development of this country and its economy.
“We also need to hold many more awareness programmes within the community in order to rescue children with disabilities from the bondage they experience when their parents keep them under lock and key. We would like to take those children and put them in schools too.”
Mahlatji added there were many disabled children who went to bed on empty stomachs because their parents were not working and could not afford decent meals on a daily basis. “We would like to see those children fed daily but we do not have enough resources to do so.”
Mahlatji thanked some of their donors who had come to their aid during the hard lockdown and enabled them to reach some of these disabled children and adults who were so desperate for food parcels.
“In that period, we distributed more than 200 food parcels to the needy. We would like to see Ithabeleng playing a major role in the lives of disabled people in Alexandra, and we can only do that if we have a solid support base of partners or sponsors to help us execute the objectives and projects we have set ourselves.”
The Ithabeleng board consists of six members including board chair Mahlatji, treasurer Christina Matsheletja, communications officer Tiisetso Matsheletja, co-founder Joseph Setlhake, Itumeleng Maredi and Karabo Modise.
Details: Ithabeleng Organisation for Disability 078 655 7326; 115 19th Avenue, Alex.
