The Sunday News
Mthabisi Tshuma, Sunday News Reporter
PEOPLE with disabilities (PWDs) from Gwanda have received a shot in the arm from disabled persons organisation Nkomwa Foundation Trust (NFT) who have facilitated that they train life skills programmes at Jairos Jiri Centre in Bulawayo.
Six youths last week travelled to enrol at Jairos Jiri Centre, bringing to 10 youths with disabilities drawn from the mining town. NFT founder Mr Pick Nkomwa said the training will bring viability to the youths as brand ambassadors for the organisation and also uplift their livelihoods.
“As the organisation strives to change course of the lives of youths with disabilities I would like to thank the NFT team for such splendid work for all the facilitation processes.
It was a tiresome process. As NFT, we are thankful to social services department (on fees assistance), Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Ministry of Health and Child Care (rehabilitation department) — disability assessments and confirmations — for all the assistance to these youths to be where they are now.
It was not easy to go through the whole process. However, with the good working relationship we have with our partners, all was made possible,” he said. Mr Nkomwa said the life skills programme was one of their key mandates as NFT.
“Among the trainees are; one with visual impairment, three who are deaf, one physical challenged and one with albinism. They will be undertaking training courses in horticulture, leather technology, hairdressing and technology, hotel and catering.
These trainees are from Gwanda namely Ward 9, 16,17 and 19. I’m hopefully they will be good ambassadors of the organisation and their families,” said Mr Nkomwa.
Jairos Jiri Centre head Mr Tafadzwa Gochayi hailed NFT for playing a pivotal role in changing lives of PWDs in Gwanda.
“NFT is one of the organisations that is performing silently in the disability fraternity. We have worked with them for two years now and we are happy that they are doing an excellent job in bringing students from all corners of Matabeleland South,” said Mr Gochayi. — @mthabisi_mthire
