Transformation is a topic that`s at the top of the agenda for the majority of South African enterprises. This has generally taken the form of black economic empowerment and employment equity efforts that are centred on correcting previous inequality.
A demographic that is often ignored when embarking on such activities is that of the intellectually or physically impaired people, regardless of whether those disabilities are physical or intellectual. The reality, however, is that organisations have a moral and legal responsibility to empower and assist the growth of these individuals.
On the upside, adding this kind of diversity is a particularly inspirational experience, bringing character and sensitivity to the workforce. The Living Link, an organisation started five years ago by the Wilkinson family, focuses specifically on the area of mental disability. It provides training for intellectually challenged individuals and assists them with the process of finding work and ultimately becoming independent, self-sufficient adults.
"Till now the plight of intellectually impaired individuals has often seen them ending up in a residential-type institution, resulting in a huge dependence on that structure," says Julia Wilkinson of The Living Link.
One of the key success factors of The Living Link has been its resolve and ability to attract the involvement of key business players who are keen to assist with finding employment for graduates of The Living Link programme within their own companies.
"The aim is to make the intellectually impaired fit into society, the workplace and the community," adds Wilkinson. "There are four aspects to the training we provide, namely employment orientation, lifestyle management, personal empowerment and community survival."
Realising the need for creating diversity within its own organisation and to assist The Living Link in its efforts to empower their candidates, ACT took on a young Living Link graduate by the name of Stuart Lyall.
Initially the arrangement between ACT and The Living Link was for Lyall to experience ACT`s working environment and learn the ropes as a warehouse assistant. He would then be empowered to go forth and find employment in the general market.
"However, from the moment Stuart joined the ACT warehouse team, it became apparent that he would not be leaving anytime soon. His obvious enthusiasm and determination to make the best of the opportunity offered to him, cemented our decision to make his appointment permanent," says Gary Pickford, sales director of ACT.
"Before ACT became involved with The Living Link, the majority of the employment opportunities available were in companies` staff kitchens, and privately owned bakeries and nurseries. ACT`s involvement has opened new doors for The Living Link and provided the opportunity for graduates to gain experience in areas not previously accessible to them."
It has been a year and a half since ACT formally employed Lyall and according to him it`s been one of the best opportunities he has ever been afforded.
"When I started working at ACT, I was immediately greeted with a very friendly atmosphere and made to feel part of the warehouse team. Currently, my responsibilities include the picking of stock for the entire range of printer cartridges sold by ACT, as well as the verification of invoices against picking slips," he says.
Before his employment opportunity materialised at ACT, Lyall says he had no idea how a warehouse worked. "I have learnt a great deal about warehouse operations, the various inputs and outputs involved in the process and quite importantly, the documentation required."
Looking forward, Lyall has big plans for the future. "In the next year I`m hoping to use the training ACT has kindly provided me with to learn more and become involved with computers. I am determined to take one step at a time to reach my goals, without losing focus on the here and now," he says.
Pickford says ACT`s efforts have not stopped with Lyall`s employment though. "In the coming months, we plan to empower more graduates from The Living Link through our warehouse training. We have also managed to secure two more positions for graduates within our group of companies."
"Going forward we are also trying to create a strong incentive that will encourage our resellers to look at taking The Living Link graduates onto their payrolls. Not only is this the right thing to do from a transformation perspective, but a really efficient way of getting quality, trained and skilled staff for roles like warehouse management, filing and general office admin," Pickford concludes.
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ACT is a focused supplier of high quality IT consumables and printers.
The company`s products and value-added services support cost-effective print management, risk management in the data storage arena, and quality output to all media formats, including speciality papers. ACT is committed to the delivery of world-class products and services to a national network of premier business partners and resellers who address the entire potential market for IT consumables in SA and neighbouring states in the SADC region. The company operates as a fully-authorised supplier of a comprehensive range of high quality products that are manufactured by the world`s premier brand name vendors.
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