The needs of people with disabilities matter too: Siloe FO1 Community Council
By: Nthabiseng Thokoana
My experience working with people with disabilities started when I met LNFOD in 2013 partnering in the implementation of ‘ Decentralisation Project’ This project was followed by another project called Capacity Building for the promotion of the rights of people with disabilities. When working with LNFOD I first started realising that people with disabilities are also able members of the society who are able in their own way. I also realised that it is not their impairments that make them ‘that other insignificant’ group but the way the society and its institutions view and serve them. Together with LNFOD we strategized on how to make the services of the Siloe F01 Community Council inclusive of people with disabilities. People with disabilities established their committees and nominated their focal persons/ representatives from each electoral division (ED). These people have been very crucial in as far as connecting people with disabilities from different electoral divisions to the council. As the Secretary of Siloe Community Council, I had a real first experience of serving people with disabilities. I always believed that people with disabilities were being served by the council. I always believed that it is okay for them to send proxies to my workplace in order to access services.
Since January 2017 when we partnered with LNFOD in the project titled Capacity Building for the promotion of the Rights of People with Disabilities, people with disabilities have been very visible here at Siloe Community Council. They come here seeking information from different offices including that of the Ministry of Social Development. They come here claiming their right to be included in developmental projects and other services offered by different offices here at the council. Since April 2017 we make sure that our annual plans are inclusive of People with disabilities. Now that we have a representative of people with disabilities in the committee of the council our projects are also influenced by the needs of the disabled. We are currently Implementing one developmental project called ‘ Likhakeletsi’ funded by the Ministry of Forestry. With the assistance of the disability focal persons from different Electoral Divisions, working with the Auxiliary Social Workers we have managed to hire people with various forms of disabilities in this project. Since the Project started in February this year, the total of 18 people with disabilities have been hired. The plan is to hire more people with disabilities until the project ends in January 2010. Working with LNFOD has assisted Siloe FO1 Community Council to have inclusive plans and budgets so that people with disabilities be included in our services
By: Nthabiseng Thokoana
My experience working with people with disabilities started when I met LNFOD in 2013 partnering in the implementation of ‘ Decentralisation Project’ This project was followed by another project called Capacity Building for the promotion of the rights of people with disabilities. When working with LNFOD I first started realising that people with disabilities are also able members of the society who are able in their own way. I also realised that it is not their impairments that make them ‘that other insignificant’ group but the way the society and its institutions view and serve them. Together with LNFOD we strategized on how to make the services of the Siloe F01 Community Council inclusive of people with disabilities. People with disabilities established their committees and nominated their focal persons/ representatives from each electoral division (ED). These people have been very crucial in as far as connecting people with disabilities from different electoral divisions to the council. As the Secretary of Siloe Community Council, I had a real first experience of serving people with disabilities. I always believed that people with disabilities were being served by the council. I always believed that it is okay for them to send proxies to my workplace in order to access services.
Since January 2017 when we partnered with LNFOD in the project titled Capacity Building for the promotion of the Rights of People with Disabilities, people with disabilities have been very visible here at Siloe Community Council. They come here seeking information from different offices including that of the Ministry of Social Development. They come here claiming their right to be included in developmental projects and other services offered by different offices here at the council. Since April 2017 we make sure that our annual plans are inclusive of People with disabilities. Now that we have a representative of people with disabilities in the committee of the council our projects are also influenced by the needs of the disabled. We are currently Implementing one developmental project called ‘ Likhakeletsi’ funded by the Ministry of Forestry. With the assistance of the disability focal persons from different Electoral Divisions, working with the Auxiliary Social Workers we have managed to hire people with various forms of disabilities in this project. Since the Project started in February this year, the total of 18 people with disabilities have been hired. The plan is to hire more people with disabilities until the project ends in January 2010. Working with LNFOD has assisted Siloe FO1 Community Council to have inclusive plans and budgets so that people with disabilities be included in our services
