Protea Glen: Enabling the disabled through learning

Computer learning has been made accessible and easier now especially for disabled people because of Tokologo Community Centre in Protea Glen, Extension One. Neo Mtshali, a facilitator at Tokologo said that they launched the computer programme as a basic introduction to computer learning which is offered at no charge to the disabled at the centre. 

“Even though the project was officially launched in 2013, we are trying to reach out to the community for them to please join the classes to acquire these skills for computer learning.” 

Mtshali said the purpose of starting the project was established after the realisation that people are struggling and they do not have access to computer learning, especially people who are at the disadvantaged end of the social spectrum.

 “You find that they experience difficulty in finding work due to their lack of computer skills, so we decided to start this thing of wanting to help people that are disadvantaged so that they can bridge that gap to finding work and at least know having basic computer knowledge.” 

The centre was proud to announce that recently they were able to find one of their students a job after a company contacted the centre and requested a recommendation, which happened just last month. 

Tokologo was developed in 1993 and functions as a self-help centre for the disabled. They also boast an internet café, a laundry and there are residents who live on the premises. 

“We accommodate 10 students at a time and we have two classes during the week, one starts in the morning, another in the afternoon.We also have part-time classes on a Saturday that are 3-hours long and start from 10 am to 1 pm. Able-bodied residents are not left out in the cold as they can also register for classes, however, they will have to pay to be able to attend the classes. 

We also have part-time classes on a Saturday that are 3-hours long and start from 10 am to 1 pm. Able-bodied residents are not left out in the cold as they can also register for classes, however, they will have to pay to be able to attend the classes. 

So far, the centre has been able to train eight disabled people, but they are aiming to increase that number considerably. Lethlogonolo Ngakntsi, a quadriplegic, and supervisor at the centre said, “We want to try and empower disabled people so they need to at least have basic computer skills instead of having nothing at all. 

“From there we’ll be able to help them more and more, so we are asking the community to support the initiative.”

Ngakntsi said that’s it’s important for people to know that the centre exists, and people can get a whole lot more from it than just the computer knowledge. 

“Knowing that you are not the only one and there are other disabled people living in the same vicinity as you, is empowering because our aim is to improve the lives of disabled people. Also, able-bodied people’s minds are changed when they see disabled people empowered and doing things on their own.” 

Unfortunately, the centre can only accommodate paraplegic and quadriplegic residents, because they have not acquired the tools and resources that would be able to accommodate other disabilities such as deafness or blindness and the like. 

“We don’t have a facilitator who can interpret things in sign language, but we are working on being able to accommodate other disabilities, we don’t want to discriminate against anybody,” said Mtshali. 

There is a screening test prior to the classes for disabled people to check whether they qualify for the two weeks’ introduction programme at the centre. There is the option for participants to continue to complete the full course which is three months long. 

“We are pleading with Protea Glen residents, especially disabled individuals to come and register for this computer course. They must come and register for the course; many people have benefited from this and it’s about bridging that gap,” concluded Mtshali.

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