In 1998 the Community Agency for Social Enquiries found that 88% of a representative sample of disabled South Africans were unemployed and figures cited at the recent Access 2004 national conference on disability held in Cape Town suggested that the situation has not improved.  Like most able-bodied, disabled people want a dignified and productive life.  Creating conditions for increased economic activity for disabled people, especially in the context of widespread unemployment, is a real long term challenge.  (Business Day 22/12/2004)

Also bear in mind that the situation of the mentally disabled adult is even worse than of the disabled (blind, deaf, physical) in general:

According to the 2001 Census 13 016 of the total population of 2 706 770 in the Free State are intellectually disabled.  Nationally 206 449 of the total population of 44 819 770 are intellectually disabled.

The mentally disabled do not enjoy the benefits of education and vocational training.  Bearing the current unemployment statistics in mind the chances for a mentally disabled person to secure a job is hopeless.  Because of their mental capacity they are easily exploited and in many ways grossly neglected by their families and many become prostitutes, homeless and jobless.  Caring for the mentally challenged person with special needs is a very difficult task and demands an enormous amount of time, patience and love.

The needs of the mentally disabled are the following:

•  safe and clean living conditions and people to cater for their physical and psychological needs
•  to be trained in a protective environment and to be occupied according to their abilities
•  to be provided in daily needs such as food, shelter and clean laundry
•  opportunity to make use of medical services on a daily basis
•  opportunity to live with and socialise with people who have the same interest
•  secure management of their finances
•  people who are immediately available in case of an emergency
•  opportunity to participate in sport
•  available transport to supply in their needs
•  protection against exploitation and harmful situations
•  parents, who are in most cases also pensioners, need the peace of mind that structures are in place to take care of
    their children after their death.

Our two main programmes of residential care and protective workshops address all these needs.  Taking all these factors into account it becomes clear that we deliver an important service to the community.  However in order to do so, we need support of the community, corporate business trusts and foundations.

These programmes of residential facilities and protective workshops provide the following benefits to the disabled from the communities of Mangaung, Botshabelo specific and also those coming from other parts of the Free State:

•  security, daily accommodation for 156 men and women
•  three balanced meals daily to 156 residents
•  one daily main meal to 48 day workers
•  daily transport to and from the centre for 48 day workers
•  daily clinic/medical services to 156 residents and 48 day workers
•  daily transport to other clinics, hospitals, etc. available to residents and day workers
•  8 protective workshops where the residents and day workers are occupied in meaningful ways according to their
    abilities, producing income generating products
•  financial management of each residents' finances
•  socialising opportunities on a daily basis between disabled persons and recreational activities organised by staff
•  daily services of an occupational therapist and volunteer psychologists
•  opportunity to be members of marathon clubs
•  opportunity to be trained to their ability and to do protective work in a protected environment
•  dedicated staff available on 24 hour basis
•  laundry service to residents

Only 84 (54%) of the 156 residents are subsidies.  Subsidies also cover only 42% of the total budget.

We urge you to support us with regard to the following:

1.  Meals

The 156 residents and 15 staff receive 3 meals per day and 27 day workers, one main meal per day.  In total about 195 000 meals are prepared per year at a budgeted cost of R 575 000.00 and at an average cost of R 2.94 per meal.  R 1 000.00 will provide 340 meals, R 2 000.00 will provide 680 meals.

2.  Training of Disabled

The mentally challenged adults can't function in the open labour market.  In these therapies / protective workshops they are trained according to their abilities and they produce products of good quality, which is sold to the public and is a main source of income generation.  The budgeted expenditure for their training and for raw materials is about R 342 354.00 per annum.

We appeal for funds to enable us to train the disabled and / or to buy raw material to manufacture products.  (Paint, varnish, screws, paint brushes, baking flour, eggs, margarine, etc.)  Donations in kind (raw materials) are also most welcome.

3.  Storage Space (Containers)

The Centre experiences serious storage problems.  To address this situation by building new structures will be too expensive.  The problem will best be solved by making use of containers.

We are in need of 3 containers and it will be used as follows:
    - Library for disabled who can read and audio tapes for those who can't read.
    - Storage space for raw materials and manufactured products from therapies / workshops
    - Storage space for catering equipment, tables and chairs used for catering functions.

The cost for 3 containers and transport are R 70 349.00

4.  Security Fences and Security Gates

The Centre is situated 2 kilometers out of town.  In the last few months incidents of crime have risen dramatically:
    - Theft of telephone cables
    - Theft of 1 Mini bus
    - 2 Other attempts to steal our vehicles
    - Cutting of security fences and gaining unlawful entrance
    - Assault of one of our residents

We are in fear that these incidents will increase.

We are in need to replace the existing wire fences (650 meters) with devils fork security fences and to employ a security guard.  Costs are as follows:

Security Guards (4 685.00 per month)  -  R 56 220.00 P/A
Devils Fork Security Fences                    -  R 143 000.00