The WinField United South Africa (WUSA) has been applauded for its efforts to recruit nine deaf learners in a groundbreaking initiative aimed at promoting disability inclusion in the workplace, coinciding with Disability Awareness Month.
Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) chairperson, Patrick Mahlakoane, commended WUSA for taking proactive steps to promote disability inclusion, setting a positive example for other organisations to follow.
DPSA said the initiative comes at a fitting time, as South Africa closes out Disability Awareness Month, held annually in November, under the theme "Empowering Persons with Disabilities through Inclusive and Accessible Communities."
At least nine deaf learners, aged between 20 and 29, have been recruited to participate in a learnership programme at Villa Crop Protection (Villa), a subsidiary of WUSA.
The programme, which is accredited by the Wholesale and Retail Operations qualification, will equip the learners with practical skills and knowledge to enhance their employability.
The learners, according to Villa, will spend one week of every month studying academic theory and three weeks acquiring on-the-job experience.
The practical experience will greatly enhance their chances of finding employment upon completion of the learnership. WUSA plans to provide the learners with extra-curricular training on various projects and sites over the next year.
Human resource manager of WUSA, Malanie Brits, said: "The sensitisation sessions were a huge success. They provided a fun and interesting approach to removing any stigmas staff may have had. Attendees became more relaxed around communicating and engaging with the learners, which has benefited the learners as well as the organisation.”
WUSA hosted six employee sensitisation sessions to ensure a smooth integration of the deaf learners into the organisation. The sessions were facilitated by Employ and Empower Deaf (eDeaf) with the aim to create awareness about the world of the deaf and deaf culture.
WUSA plans to continue its partnership with eDeaf and explore opportunities to repeat the program in the future, fostering a greater sense of integration and diversity in the organisation.
Established in 2007, eDeaf is the leading provider of Deaf skills development training in South Africa, which provides recruitment, training, support, and interpreter services.