Sixty-eight people, aged 18 to 60, who have completed various courses through the Cape Town Society for the Blind, were honoured during a graduation ceremony at its Salt River premises on Wednesday November 30.
The courses cover everything from cane weaving and Braille training to computer literacy, public speaking and events management.
“The training allows the graduates to be better prepared for further education in tertiary institutions and job employment,” said Veronica Pronk, the society’s business development manager.
Sibongiseni Aviwe Ntuthu, a 21-year-old visually-impaired graduate from Khayelitsha, received several certificates, including one for computer literacy. “The society advanced our skills. I am able to understand how to use a computer fully, I am really proud of myself,” he said.
Mr Ntuthu, who is doing a learnership at a call centre and hopes to be a teacher one day, represented South Africa’s para-athletics team in the 100 and 200 metres at the Region 5 Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana, in 2018. Next year, he will be participating in the national para-athletics games in Stellenbosch.
Nina Samuels, a 37-year-old graduate from Pelican Park, said: “I really appreciate the support given by the organisation a lot. Whenever I needed something from them, they were there to support me.”
Ms Samuels, who also completed a computer-literacy course, can see colours from a far distance but she can’t see what is right in front of her. She will be studying a disability practice course at UCT next year.
Visit capetownsocietyfortheblind.co.za or call 021 448 4302 for more information.
