A non-profit organisation, Ikageng Self-Help Association of the Blind, based in Ga-Rankuwa Zone 2, is pleading for community support and government intervention to help visually impaired members maintain and grow their safe space, where they can be creative and share with one another.
The centre was established to help the visually impaired engage in income-generating activities, enabling them to sustain themselves and contribute meaningfully to society.
The centre currently has 50 members, including visually impaired individuals and a few sighted members who work hand in hand to help maintain the centre.
The centre offers programmes in which members actively participate, and it relies on donations to operate. It has been difficult for the visually impaired to manage their daily challenges due to a lack of proper infrastructure and tools needed to continue their craft.
During the last government visit, the centre was also given twenty trees to plant as part of the U20 programme. At that time, they were able to voice their daily challenges. The administrator of the centre, Mr Andrew Molapo, said, “We told them about our challenges, the ramps and funding. We are still struggling with funding and materials for baking and pillow making.”
The centre offers hands-on programmes led by the visually impaired themselves, including gardening, knitting, pillow making, and baking. These activities are meant to help members develop skills and generate income. However, due to limited community support and government donations, they rely on small contributions from companies to continue their work. Mr Molapo added, “They were not specific; we sent an email. They said we must send an email as proof that we requested PPE and baking ingredients around January.”
The items produced by members are sold at auctions and marketplaces, so the centre can earn a small income to sustain its activities.
Despite its efforts to support the visually impaired, the centre faces challenges, including theft. Because there is no security, some infrastructure has been stolen, including new sewing machines and the office laptop. This continues due to little support from the community and the community policing forum.
The centre manager, Mr Ike Baloi, who is also visually impaired, also pleaded for assistance. “The centre is not funded through various departments that we have approached, and we do not get a positive response,” he stated.
In addition to the lack of funding and poor infrastructure, where members must use stairs instead of ramps, the centre struggles with limited community involvement and crime. There is also no transportation for members, many of whom travel long distances. They previously received assistance from Starline buses, but due to the strike, some members now struggle to attend and participate in activities.
The centre hopes for greater support from the community, youth, government, and private sector. However, this has been challenging, as many young people are not willing to volunteer. “The community says the project is for the community, but there is no participation from the community,” added Mr Baloi.
The Ikageng Self-Help Association of the Blind hopes to grow and receive more assistance in order to empower the visually impaired community, strengthen its income-generating programmes, and continue its work.
