On the 5^th of September 2014 our Bellville and Parc Du Cap Academies hosted Casual Day in support of people with disabilities.

It was a huge success as all staff and learners actively participated. PMI and I Can! jointly hosted the event with activities linked to the theme of the day – “Bring on the Bling”. Each group had to prepare a 1920’s hair-band using feathers, glitter and other bling provided.

A PMI Disabled learner who is currently completing his learnership with PMI, shared a short rendition of his life and experience as a disabled learner working alongside others. His story gave us invaluable insights of the challenges he experiences on a daily basis. This was fitting for the occasion as we celebrated the abilities of those with disabilities.

I Can! ran a competition for all staff and learners, which had participants competing for the “Best Dressed” prize. We are delighted to announce that Siphokazi Bele, our lead facilitator in Cape Town, won the staff prize. Congratulations to her for participating on this day.

As part of learner involvement initiatives, I Can! Western Cape also hosted a Mr. & Miss Bling competition where leaners competed to show off their bling. This was done to encourage walking with confidence and improving self-esteem. Two learners walked away with R50 airtime vouchers for participating in the event. Participants: Miss Bling Amanda Mgcadiya & Mr Bling Solomzi Khombela.

We are proud to have been part of the Casual Day awareness for People with Disabilities and look forward to 2015 Casual Day. I wonder what the theme will be….?

Maryam Kriel
Operations Manager – W Cape

The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet –Aristotle

The above mentioned quotation applies to Babalwa Klaas who has completed a Business Administration Level 3 learnership at Siyaya for the period April 2013- April 2014. Upon completion of the learnership she volunteered at Motherwell High School as an Admin Clerk.

I got a call from Sine (Recruitment Office) at I Can! informing me of an work opportunity that has become available. A company called Windhoist had a vacancy for an administrator with a disability and an interview was arranged. The interview was extremely nerve wrecking and challenging as it was my first time being interviewed over Skype. The people who were interviewing me were from Ireland and Scotland, therefore it was difficult to understand due to the differing accents. They were also speaking very fast but I tried by all means to listen and answer thoroughly. I then received a call informing me that I was successful. I was ecstatic as this was once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

It means a lot to me because as a volunteer at Motherwell High School, I was not receiving any remuneration but now thankfully this has changed. Windhoist has offered me two days to come into work as well as a learnership at PMI to do Management Level 4. This learnership will further develop my skills and equip further me in my position.

Babalwa had undergone training at her workplace and states that the training was thoroughly enjoyable. It has equipped her to do things confidently and in a professional manner.

By working at Windhoist I can say that this is the time to fulfil my dreams because I get to do two things at the same time; to work and support myself as well as an education which I feel is the key to success. I want to know more about my company and I am willing to learn. I also want to thank I Can! for giving me the opportunity and especially thank Windhoist for employing me as a Junior Office Administrator. I want to promise I Can! that I’m not going to take this opportunity given me for granted.

That said the bitter roots Babalwa had endured to make something of her life, she is now reaping the sweet fruits of her labour.

Sine Makobo

Recruitment Officer

Emotional Intelligence

We invited the Kempton Park Police Department to come and talk to our learners regarding safety and security. Since its woman’s month, they also prepared a small ceremony for the ladies.

They brought a motivational speaker, Ms T Banyini, who spoke to our learners about emotional intelligence and taking control of your life.

She spoke to the learners about Attitude, saying it is our attitude towards work and life that makes both successful. Every problem has a solution, but sometimes we have to change our “Attitude”.

In her message to the learners she mentioned the following:

• Stay away from anger…it hurts only you. If you are right then there is no need to be angry, and if you are wrong then you don’t have any right to get angry.
• Every problem we encounter comes to break us or make us, the choice is yours whether you become victims or victorious.
• Do you know why God created gaps between fingers? So that someone who is special to you comes and fills those gaps by holding your hand forever.
• Forgive those who have not treated you as expected and forget the bad things; this also makes room available for storing good things.

The learners were so motivated by her message that there is no one but yourself who is in control of your life.

The Police of Kempton Park also prepared “Certificates of Appreciation” for each learner. The certificates that were awarded had each learners name on it, with the following quote

“This Certificate is awarded to you for being the Woman of the Month” – the certificate highlighted how much they were being appreciated as Beautiful Women!!

Anathi Msolo
Academy Supervisor, Kempton Park

We ended winter in an interesting way!

I Can! Vereeniging Academy celebrated their unwavering commitment to women and their role in the struggle for the emancipation of women.

National Women’s Day is an annual public holiday, celebrated in South Africa on 9 August. This commemorates the national march of women on this day in 1956 to petition against the pass laws that required South Africans defined as “black” by The Population Registration Act to carry a ‘”pass,” an internal passport that severely restricted their movement. Each “pass” designated specific urban/metropolitan areas in which the bearer was authorized to live, work and travel. Within such areas, black South Africans were required to carry and produce their “pass” at all times, and were arrested if without one. As such, it served to maintain population segregation, control urbanisation, and manage migrant labour during the apartheid era.An inspiring display of political strength, female solidarity and inner fortitude. – Wikipedia

The march on August 9, 1956 is both a reminder of the great women who helped mould South Africa and the trailblazing women who continue to lead the country forward. A song was composed in honour of this momentous occasion, “Wathint’ Abafazi Wathint’ imbokodo!” If you strike a woman, you strike a rock”

• To all the men here at I Can! Vereeniging, thank you for the support and to all the ladies: Happy Women’s Month.

Another immensely proud moment for I Can! was the opening of the brand new academy in East London on 4 August 2014.

Situated at 37 St Marks Road, Southernwood, 35 learners sponsored by ARB Electric Wholesalers, entered the doors on this sunny Monday morning ready for a new challenge. Our 3 new staff members, Academy Supervisor Busisa Nokama, and two facilitators Avile Sikiti and Thulisile Khumalo, were eager to start them off on this new journey.

ARB Electrical Wholesalers is Southern Africa’s largest independent black-empowered electrical wholesaler. With its roots in Richards Bay since 1980, this company has grown drastically to become a nationwide, fully equipped electrical wholesaler. Employing over 600 staff members, ARB provides a wide range of internationally recognised and SABS approved products across three main categories:

• Power and instrumentation cable
• Overhead line equipment and conductors
• General low voltage products (including lighting)

 

In addition to our generous sponsor, we would like to extend a special Thank You to the following individuals for their selfless assistance in getting the academy off the ground:

• Ms Jola from the Department of Education in marketing the learnerships to parents and students in the area; and
• The East London PMI team for the use of their venues and hospitality during assessments and interviews.

Be sure to keep your eyes and ears open for all the news on our new venture.

 

Lauren Butler
Operations Manager – Eastern Cape

Three out of 5 of our LIV employees proudly attended their graduation ceremony at Westridge School on the 2^nd of August.

Seen in this picture (from left to right) are: Thabisile Mchunu (placed on learnership by Defy), Samkelisiwe Ngcobo (placed on learnership Defy) and Nokuthula Khumalo (placed on learnership BHP).

We are so proud of these ladies, not only for the work they put in during their learnership, but also for the hard work and commitment they now show while working at LIV. Thabisile is sponsored now by PMI, Samkelisiwe by SGRP, and Nokuthula by Boardroom Appointments.

Thanks to these companies’ Enterprise Development contributions, the ladies have been in full time employment since Feb of this year and work (happily) in various departments at LIV.

Please check out our Khulisani website – http://khulisani.co.za/ featuring information on our existing projects, and ideas on how companies can earn 5 bonus points on their BBBEE scorecard, by supporting Khulisani through enterprise development.

On the 2^nd August KZN held their second official graduation at the Westpark school in Malvern. Sixty seven learners from 17 different sponsoring clients graduated. Our honorary guest was Westpark’s principle Mr Perumal, who was there to say a heartfelt motivational speech to all our past learners.

Included in the graduation was Durban North’s very own Mbali Nkosi (now Academy Administrator) who graduated from the Business Practice learnership. We are especially proud of her.

Not only was this a special occasion for the learners where we celebrated their success, but also a time to thank the facilitators who played a vital role in shaping their lives with their continuous love and support. Very often the role of I Can! facilitator extends to become a mentor and a role model to the learners for the duration of the learnership. From the confines of the classrooms the facilitators build the confidence of the learners so that they can go out and face the world as confident, well-adjusted adults ready to take on life’s challenges while living the I Can! Vision:

“To focus on the mainstream inclusion and integration of young adults with disabilities into society”

Natascha McAllister
Operations Manager – KZN

On the 11^th August 20 new learners were inducted and orientated at our I Can! Farm agricultural academy in the Midlands, marking the start of our new agricultural skills programme in Plant Production. Together with their guardians, learners and I Can! staff packed the farm house to capacity, whilst introductions to I Can! and the new programme were made. The learners then enjoyed a walk about on the farm followed by the official orientation session and signing of all the necessary documentation.

This Skills Programme will run for a duration of 12 weeks consisting of 2 days of theory and 1 day of practical work on the farm every week. For the duration of September the learners will be conducting their theoretical work at the HS Ebrahim Special Needs School in Pietermaritzburg whilst we wait for renovations on our new Howick academy to be completed. We expect to officially open this academy on 1 October 2014.

Agriseta has very generously sponsored the Skills Programme. We look forward to impressing them with a very successful and grateful class of competent learners at the end of this year.

Youth Day, a public holiday on the 16th of June commemorates The Soweto Uprising of 1976 where high school Students from Sowetan schools protested in response to the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in local schools. An estimated 20,000 students took part in the protest. Many were killed during the demonstration.

This year, Kempton Park learners wore school uniforms to honour the day. Part of the celebrations included watching the movie SARAFINA and playing a “Guess Who” competition where learners and staff came with photos of themselves as their younger selves and other learners had to guess who was in the picture. It was a fun and memorable day and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Anathi Msolo
Academy Supervisor
Kempton Park

At the I Can! Cape Town academy we work as a team and encourage our learners to have the same values.
The learners at I Can! Cape Town in the past have had limited work place exposure. They have however, achieved success despite several practical experience challenges.

We are delighted to announce that our newer learners will have the privilege of being placed at our one of our four host practical sites in Cape Town. We have been very lucky to have partnered with local schools and retirement homes which will offer the opportunity for practical work-experience for the duration of their learnership.

We would like to thank all the host practical sites for welcoming our learners to their organisations:

• Principal Mr B.D Pather at Tembaletu “Our Hope” School for LSEN(Physically Disabled)
• Manager, Mr Lionel Dreyer at Sun Bell Lodge
• Nursing Manager, Mrs Renette du Toit at Boland Old Age Home
• Manager Mrs Nokongama Matiwane Ekuphumleni Old Age Home
• Academy Supervisor Ms Nikki McMahon I Can Disability Academy

These learners will be exposed to work environments and have a supervisor to report to while on duty. Our facilitators will work with the supervisors to ensure that the learners provide good service and gain experience simultaneously. This is a great opportunity for our learners to engage with others in the workplace who can help guide them to get the experience they need.

More Cape Town news, and great thanks to Academy Supervisor Nikki McMahon for providing a platform for ex learner Michelle Frans to be part of the I Can! team. Michelle completed her Domestic Services Learnership (NQF 1) and Hygiene and Cleaning (NQF 1) and has now the temporary position of General Assistant at our Bellville Office. She is very excited about this new opportunity and is coping well in the workplace . Michelle will be employed for a six month period and will be exposed to basic office administration during this time. This opportunity will be offered to other I Can! graduates on a rotational basis in an attempt to broaden their workplace experience, giving them opportunities to develop skills and in doing so, increase employment opportunities.

Maryam Kriel
Operations Manager
Western Cape

One of the biggest challenges that our recruitment team is faced with is the high level of illiteracy we observe from candidates who are being assessed for enrolment (all national qualifications have some degree of literacy as a requirement for entrance into the selected course). This is often the biggest stumbling block for our intellectually disabled and sometimes also for our hearing impaired learners.

I recently met with teachers from Ningizimu Special School and informed them that their learners were not being taken on learnerships with us due to their poor literacy levels. I suggested that the school start a reading program: a reading hour everyday with every class. The school does not have a library and most of their learners live far away from any public library.

The I Can! team at Durban North academy are co-ordinating a book-drive initiative to assist Ninggizimu with enough books to start this much-needed resource for their learners.

The staff of Ningizimu School are appreciative and grateful to I Can! for this venture.

The KZN team is looking for help from all of our stake-holders. Do you have a spare book lying around? Have your children outgrown any of their childhood books? By donating your unwanted books, you could give a great opportunity to an underprivileged child: The opportunity to read!

Please contact:

Nalini Cuppasamy
Snr. Recruitment Administrator
Kwa Zulu Natal