Celebrating Human Rights Month with people living with disability

Nothing about us without us was the slogan of the day at the Human Rights awareness held by Amahlathi Local Municipality for people living with disability at Mlungisi Community Commercial Park in Stutterheim.

The purpose of the day was to empower and highlight the rights of the physical challenged people and also to fight discrimination against them. The programme was a joint venture between the Municipality and other stakeholders such as the Department of Social Development. There were a number of speakers who were focusing on opportunities that are available for people living with disability, such as computer courses offered for those with grade 12 certificates. Ms Ziyanda Ntengu from Supply Chain Management further advised them to register companies so they could be able to get into the database of the municipality so they be able do business with the municipality as an initiative of boosting the Local Economic Development.

Amongst those people who attended the event was Mr Xhanya the Chairperson of the Disabled Forum who stated that the Amahlathi Local Municipality has helped the forum in so many ways hence they had solid relations as the forum with the Municipality. He maintained the fact that when you are physically challenged there are certain things that one is unable to do such as participating in some sport activities. The Disabled Forum has given hope to those who had lost it and also being disabled does not mean the end of the world but opens opportunities for those who still wish to pursue their dreams.

The forum has members who are part of the Amahlathi Goal Ball Team for the blind, which participants in games in the District and Provincial level and the last games were hosted by Amahlathi Team in Stutterheim. This proves nothing is impossible “Nothing about us without us”.