He added; "There are organisations and departments not only in national government, but also in local government that have been tasked to help with the development of skills for people with disabilities."
Rev Roelfse of the United Reformed Church in Great Brak River had some inspiring words for everyone present.
Chairperson of the meeting Mr Henry Koert introduced Miss Marta van Rooyen, who demonstrated various crafts to transfer and develop skills to the various disabled people at the meeting. Skills such as candle making, card embossing and glass staining proved very popular. It was intended that people with disabilities could learn new skills to enable them to make products to sell at the regular market on Saturdays at the Spar in Great Brak River.
The Western Cape Minister of Land Development, Mr Gerrit van Rensburg, in his address said, "I respect the drive and determination of the people with disabilities and will assist wherever possible within my portfolio to improve your conditions."
Bayman went on to say that as a community, the disabled are called upon to make a stand against crime and violence and to make their voices heard. "The disabled community is as important in the struggle against victimization as anybody else."
Guest speaker Sean Snyman, also a disabled person, said, "People with disabilities are often frowned upon, because able bodied people are threatened by the fact that, as people with disabilities, we drive ourselves harder than able bodied people. We have a mind-set of needing to prove ourselves and to accomplish more because of the stigma being attached to a disability."
Snyman called on everybody with a disability to be proud of who they are. He added, "We don't want hand-outs for the rest of our lives, we don't want to beg for our daily bread. We want to be able to support our families with pride, but we need society to accept us and the only way that we are going to do this is by being noticed."
Henry Le Fleur, the chairperson for the Challengers, an NGO in Great Brak, who is confined to a wheelchair, participated in glass staining and added, "The organisation is grateful for the efforts of the Minister and Councillor in trying to improve the circumstances of people with disabilities."
Wyk 14 in Groot-Brakrivier het Saterdag, 9 Maart die harte van gestremdes bly gemaak met die projek wat hulle geloods het in samewerking Wes-Kaap Departement. Sowat 38 gestremdes van Greenhaven, Groot-Brakrivier het deel uitgemaak van 'n werkswinkel wat deur juf Marta van Rooyen, ook van Groot-Brakrivier, aangebied was.
Verskeie modelle was aan hulle voorgele en die mense het dit geniet. Die modelle wat hulle gemaak het, kon hulle huis toe neem en verdere modelle maak. Die doel was om hulle vaardig te maak om hulle handewerk een maal 'n maand op die markie voor Spar te verkoop vir 'n inkomste.
Ds Roelfse van die VGK Groot-Brakrivier het ook bemoedigende woorde gebring oor die gebreke man. Sean Snyman, wat 'n praatjie gehad het oor sy motorongeluk wat hy 'n paar jaar gelede gehad het, is gestrem aan sy linkerhand. Hy het aan die voorsitter van Greenhaven, Mnr Hennie le Fleur, gesê dat hy daar vir hulle is en dat hulle saam 'n eenheid gaan vorm.
Dank gaan aan Rld Bayman en sy helpers met reëlings vir die dag.
Aan die Minister van Landbou van die Wes-Kaap, mnr Gerrit van Rensburg, gaan daar ook 'n groot dank uit vir sy bydrae en belangstelling met sy teenwoordigheid.
Die Minister het gesê dat ons hande moet vat en saam moet werk om ons medemens by te staan. Hy sê die gestremdes is net so kosbaar vir hom en ook vir die Hemelse Vader. Hy sê hulle moet nooit eenkant wees nie en sal altyd deel van die gemeenskap van Groot-Brakrivier wees.
Die Minister het ook melding gemaak dat hy by die Landelike Landbou in Mosselbaai betrokke is en ook vir werkskepping in hierdie rigting.
The Western Cape minister of agriculture, Mr Gerrit van Rensburg, was introduced to members of the Great Brak River community by Cllr Cliffie Bayman of Mossel Bay. Photo: Henry Koert
ARTICLE: SEAN SNYMAN AND HENRY KOERT
