Four disabled people will now have jobs at Rhodes University's Department of Zoology and Entomology. This is after eight people attended a two-month course at Gadra, on the basics of zoology and entomology.
Four disabled people will now have jobs at Rhodes University's Department of Zoology and Entomology. This is after eight people attended a two-month course at Gadra, on the basics of zoology and entomology.
"Half the number will now be employed," said course co-ordinator and the department's research officer, Grant Martin.
"We spoke to [Gadra Advice and Community Work director] Roger Domingo about employing disabled people and he said they actually are working on a programme of that nature. So we set-up the course," Martin said.
"It developed as we were going. Martin is excited about the project. "I I think its been a great pilot. It all started as a conversation about how to get involved in the community. Community engagement is part of the university's requirements."
"Because at Gadra we are already running the Sinako project which deals with people with disabilities, the idea blended in smoothly. We joined forces to work together."
The group were awarded certificates for completing the course at a ceremony last Friday at the library of training partner SAIAB (The South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity).
"I did not have knowledge about how to treat insects. They did not mean a thing to me. But now that I have been part of this course I've learnt an lot and my grandchildren will also learn. Even my community at large," said Zukisa Blondie Ngeju.
Landile Booi said, "I am very happy to have received my certificate and to have done this programme. I did not know much before this, but now I have been armed to treat insects properly."
"It was a great success, Martin said. "For people who started off not knowing each other, they have become a collective and now support each other."
Head of Department of Zoology and Entomology Professor Martin Hill said the programme had run very smoothly. He said the course participants had been a receptive audience and had come with very open minds.
He emphasised that it had been a team effort.
"SAIAB hosted the event because it is easy for the building to accommodate people with disabilities. SAIAB has been open to us and we are very grateful," said Hill.
"It is going to be sustainable. We won't be able to employ all of them, but we will keep track of them for more job opportunities that come."
