Mbabane – Vulnerable children, persons with disabilities and learners at Matsetsa School for the Deaf are set to benefit from donations worth a combined E655 542.98 from Select Limited and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
The donations, handed over during a ceremony attended by officials from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, include school shoes valued at E120 000 and wheelchairs worth E100 000 from Select Limited, while TİKA provided vocational support worth E455 542.98 to Matsetsa School for the Deaf.
The TİKA donation comprises fashion and fabric items and accessories worth E305 869.50, a mobile stall valued at E113 430.70 and art and craft materials worth E36 242.78.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office said the support would help provide vulnerable children with essential school items while giving learners at Matsetsa practical skills that could help them earn a living.
The office also welcomed the continued support from Select Limited, which contributed shoes, socks and uniforms for vulnerable children last year.
The school shoes and wheelchairs donated by Select Limited are expected to assist children who face challenges accessing education and persons with disabilities who require mobility support.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office said the support to Matsetsa would give learners access to practical training in fashion, arts and crafts, while the mobile stall would provide an opportunity to display and sell products produced through the vocational programme.
The office further said the mobile stall would be completed after the learners’ examinations, with students expected to participate in its production under the guidance of their vocational teacher.
This, it said, would give learners a sense of ownership and accomplishment while allowing them to apply the practical skills gained at school.
The support from TİKA was also described as part of the cordial relationship between the Governments of Eswatini and Türkiye.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office said vocational training was important in helping persons with disabilities acquire practical skills, improve their chances of employment and create their own income-generating opportunities.
It said skills in specific trades, fashion and arts and crafts could also open opportunities for learners to become entrepreneurs and create employment for others.
The office said vocational training could also improve learners’ confidence and self-esteem by giving them practical abilities and a sense of purpose.
At the same time, the school shoes and wheelchairs donated by Select Limited were described as more than material support, with the office saying the items would help beneficiaries attend school, move with greater independence and participate more fully in their communities.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office said the combined donations reflected the importance of partnerships between Government, the private sector and international development partners in addressing the needs of vulnerable groups.
It said the support was in line with the country’s broader commitment to disability inclusion and ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to education, skills development and opportunities to participate in the economy.
The office expressed gratitude to Select Limited and the Government of Türkiye, through TİKA, for their contributions, saying the support would benefit current learners while also providing skills that could continue to benefit future generations at Matsetsa School for the Deaf.
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