WARD 57 Cllr Faeeza Chame spend a day learning about the life journeys and experiences of residents from the Johannesburg Society for the Blind (JSB) on Sunday, July 10.
“I decided to do something special for them and made a few calls. I had sponsors who called me to offer their assistance. On Sunday, the residents including the staff of JSB, were spoiled with a lunch and they had the opportunity to share their life journeys with us.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the management and staff of the JSB for allowing us to spend the day at the society but most of all my gratitude is for all the sponsors who came on board at such short notice, such as Fatima Taila ,Tasnim Mitha, Nadia Khan, Banoo Meer, Ayesha Ramadam, Abdul Sattar Latib, Suraya Shihaam and Fatima Ballim and some of the South Hills community. This amazing eye-opening event would not have been possible without their assistance,”said Cllr Chame.
JSB is a non-profit organisation that caters to the needs of the blind and partially-sighted persons.
It was founded in 1926 and runs a residential facility which accommodates the visually impaired, who, for various reasons, cannot stay with their relatives.
Cllr Chame informed the COURIER that due to the high cost of living as well as the increase in food prices it has been increasingly difficult to adequately provide for the residents in the JSB care.
Most of them rely on only the state disability grant as a source of income which is not enough to sustain them with a good nutritious meal.
JSB runs a workshop where it trains people with disabilities in basketry, weaving and furniture making.
Sadly, the workshop has not been operational as there are not enough funds to purchase material to complete the projects they started. There is a heap of furniture that is left incomplete because of no weaving material.
Anyone wishing to visit or donate anything to the residents can go directly to their offices or contact Cllr Chame on 082 518 4375.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za