© All Rights Reserved by Connie Mulder Centre
For Multi-handicapped Adults
A very important aspect in the treatment program for disabled people is on-going
training and life skills development by engaging them in protective workshops. We
were, however, forced to close down two of our protective workshops because our
sponsors (from the business sector) could no longer supply us with simple,
repetitive work, due to financial considerations.
The essence of workshops is that:
•
It provides on-going life skills training to our disabled residents;
•
It enhances their quality of life as it improves their self-esteem, dignity,
feelings of achievement etc.; and
•
It helps them to become financially responsible as they all receive weekly
stipends for their involvement in the protective workshops.
At present we have the following protective workshops:
•
A concrete workshop for the manufacturing of concrete poles, slabs,
stepping stones, fountains, statues, curbing etc.
•
A brick workshop for the manufacturing of stock, maxi-bricks and paving;
•
A woodwork workshop for the building of new and the restoration of old
furniture;
•
A mechanic workshop for the maintenance and servicing of our own
vehicles;
•
A bakery for primarily the baking of bread (there are plans to expand this to
other activities later);
•
A Q-Bond workshop for the packaging of needles for an outside entity (this
is currently our only form of contract work);
•
A sewing workshop for a variety of activities;
•
Some of our residents are also involved in our laundry, the maintenance of
our dining hall, our kitchen, the maintenance of our buildings and
premises, the cleaning of our hostels and ablution facilities etc. Our very
frail residents’ who, because of their age or physical condition, can no
longer be part of the protective workshops, are accommodated in a
Therapy House. Here their main activities are basic numeracy, literacy,
drawing and coloring of pictures etc.
Our most common problem in the workshop is the procurement of safety clothes
and the maintenance of equipment and machinery. It will also be most helpful if
we could get more contract work i.e. simple, repetitive tasks, from outside entities.
Our outreach work is centered in Poortje Informal Settlement, where we are
rendering services to 110 vulnerable families.
In addition we encourage our residents to participate in the annual Cancer Walk,
Jan Viljoen 18 Hour Marathon, Cricket Tournament etc.
We have initiated a number of fundraising projects to supplement our income in
an attempt to meet our ever increasing financial obligations. Here I can mention
our involvement in the Randfontein Show where we sell Yankees, our Bingo
evening and our Carnival.
It is also part of our treatment
program to expose our residents
to the following annual activities:
•
A Mr & Miss Connie’s competition for our
residents and day workers only;
•
A gala and athletic meeting which is open to
all disabled adults from the Gauteng
Province; and
•
An Eisteddfod which is also open to disabled
adults from Gauteng.