The Vodacom Foundation has invested R300 000 into the development of the Pinetown Business and Networking Centre, enabling people with disabilities to access a wide range of telecommunications services.
The centre is the second of its kind under the custodianship of the Quadriplegic Association of South Africa (QASA). The first centre was established on the East Rand in Gauteng.
The centre, located in Shop Number 4 in the Umdoni Centre in Pinetown, near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, incorporates a copy shop and an Internet caf'e. It will offer services to the local community at a reasonable cost to ensure viability and self-sustainability.
"Vodacom sees the beauty of this business centre as creating business opportunities for people who have generally missed out on the excitement of the communications revolution for reasons other than their ability. This is true empowerment with an entrepreneurial flair to it, to underscore the importance of self-sustainability and capacity building," said Monde Mama, the Executive Head of Vodacom Foundation.
Vodacom, SA`s leading cellular network, recently launched its Specific Needs initiative, which is aimed at making its cellular communications services and products available to all including people with disabilities.
A great feature of this initiative is the introduction of the Vodacom Speaking Phone, which is a Nokia 6600 cellphone loaded with text-to-speech software, for blind and visually impaired customers. This phone is available from any Vodashop.
The centre will be a one-stop shop full of business activity, where beneficiaries can prepare their CVs, set up meetings with prospective customers, develop business plans, research business opportunities and establish networks.
Another unique feature of this business centre is that it will be run by two entrepreneurs with disabilities who have chosen this business opportunity after having completed a one-year learnership through QASA, in partnership with the Services SETA.
Ari Seirlis, QASA`s National Director, said the organisation has supported these entrepreneurs` dream of owning an Internet caf'e and copy shop, by giving them the opportunity of running the centre as their own business.
"We have grown and developed through successful partnerships with government and the corporate sector and the Vodacom Foundation investment is another good example of this," Seirlis said.
He added that these initiatives were positively changing the lives of people with disabilities through better lifestyles and opportunities to derive income. The same concept will be expanded into other regions.
This is another practical attempt by SA`s leading cellular network to break down artificial barriers that exclude those with disabilities from participating in the telecommunications industry.
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