CHANGE, REAL RESULTS, REAL PRIDE
There are moments that deserve more than a line in a report, they deserve a cheer. When our branches in Laingsburg, Jo‑Dolphin, Olifantsrivier, and Witzenberg received Skills and Work Centre subsidies from the Department of Social Development, it was one of those moments. Quiet office dances may have happened (we won’t deny it) because this support means something big: more opportunities, more growth, more inclusion.
Why It Matters
The Skills and Work Centre (SWC) programme, set out in the Department’s Revised Policy (2019), is all about enhancing the skills and capabilities of persons with disabilities. It’s about opening doors to the Open Labour Market, creating pathways through supported employment programmes, and making sure that persons with disabilities are not just present in the economy, they are thriving in it.
At WCAPD, we stand behind this vision. Our role is to help persons with disabilities:
This isn’t theory, it’s happening. And it’s worth celebrating!
A Collective Win
South Africa still has a long way to go; persons with disabilities make up only 1.4% of the workforce, far below the national target of 3%. That’s why these subsidies matter. They’re not just numbers on a budget line, they’re fuel for inclusion, growth, and dignity.
So, let’s celebrate Laingsburg, Jo‑Dolphin, Olifantsrivier, and Witzenberg. Let’s recognise the Department of Social Development for investing in change. And let’s keep asking ourselves: How do we see inclusion shaping the future of work?
Because this is what real change looks like and it feels good to be proud of it.
For more information about our Skills and Work Centre Programme, email socialwork@wcapd.org.za
