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November 7, 2024
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Sikelelwa Alex Msitshana is an extra-ordinary woman who is changing the lives of Deaf people. Picture Supplied.

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https://www.thedeafdiary.com/womens-day-we-honour-a-deaf-businesswoman-who-has-empowered-480-deaf-people/

As millions of South Africans from all walks of life commemorated the annual Women’s Day, the Diary Series of Deaf People focussed on the success of a proudly Deaf businesswoman who unceasingly opens doors of job and entrepreneurship opportunities for many in the Deaf community.

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 9 August 2024 marks 68 years since 20 000 women have marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the pass laws that were enforced by the apartheid government. Unlike then, the struggle faced by men and women in this era, is the high unemployment rate, especially in the Deaf community.

 Despite this major challenge of high unemployment rate in the country, Sikelelwa Alex Msitshana, who was born 12 years after the significant 1956 march, has successfully equipped the community with the right skills that has enabled them to obtain decent jobs. The positions encompass Human Resources assistants, IT trainees, administration clerks, data capturers, kitchen assistants, junior chefs, and general labourers. Others are equipped with farming and manufacturing entrepreneurial skills.

 Through Deaf Empowerment Firm (DEF), an organisation that Msitshana established in the same year she lost her hearing, 2015, she has changed the lives of 480 Deaf people. She has done so, by enrolling them into various training initiatives. The purpose being to equip them with skills development that aid them to obtain decent jobs after completion of their training. 

 She said the organisation offers a variety of skills development programmes tailored for the Deaf community, from digital literacy and software development to vocational training in trades. She added that each programme is designed to be accessible, ensuring that students not only learn but excel.

 Msitshana said:

“Deaf Empowerment Firm was born out of a pressing need to close the substantial economic opportunity gap faced by the Deaf community. More than just an organisation, DEF represents a pivotal movement for economic and social inclusion. We are driven by a vision to transform the lives of Deaf individuals, working with them to claim their rightful place in society and the economy.

“Since its inception, DEF has not only facilitated job placements but has also significantly expanded opportunities for Deaf individuals through comprehensive skills development programmes. To date, we have successfully enrolled over 480 candidates in various training initiatives, equipping them with crucial skills that prepare them for the workforce. While each of these training opportunities represents a step towards empowerment, supporting families and strengthening communities, we recognise that the journey does not end here,” said Msitshana.

 But Msitshana added that “securing permanent employment post-training remains a challenge, reflecting the broader systemic barriers that still exist in the job market. Although not all candidates have been absorbed into employment following their training, each experience enhances their employability and contributes to breaking down long-standing prejudices. We continue to advocate for and work towards greater job absorption, aiming to transform these training opportunities into sustainable employment for every Deaf individual we support.”

 She said through initiatives like their Workplace Exposure Programme, where they have partnered with forward-thinking organisations to showcase the abilities and potential of Deaf candidates, they have seen a significant shift in employment attitudes. She elaborated that the programme not only demonstrates the competencies of their Deaf candidates in real-world settings but also helps dismantle doubts among prospective employers.

 “Following these work exposure programmes, many employers, now confident in the capabilities they’ve witnessed, have moved to permanently employ our candidates in diverse roles. Each placement is a step towards changing perceptions and proving the versatility and skill of Deaf professionals.”

About 480 lives have been transformed through Sikelelwa Alex Msitshana’s organisation, DEF. Picture Supplied.

Beyond employment, she said they are deeply committed to fostering entrepreneurship within the Deaf community.

 Our garment manufacturing skills programme is a prime example, where participants not only learn a trade but are also equipped and supported to establish their own small businesses. Graduates from this programme have successfully launched their own venture producing a range of products from t-shirts, diary covers, cushion covers and innovative COVID-19 masks with clear windows to enhance communication for Deaf individuals. 

“We have also trained our candidates with aspirations in farming, in the skill of aquaponics farming and are currently working towards establishing an aquaponics farming social enterprise where they can receive more intensive training in this innovative farming method and operate their own social enterprise.”

 She said, “These entrepreneurial efforts aim not only to provide sustainable income but also contribute to the economy, reinforcing the profound impact of empowering Deaf individuals beyond conventional employment.”

 Although she was born in Port Elizabeth, currently Gqeberha, Msitshana moved to Soweto when she was still very young.

 Reflecting in her childhood days in Soweto, the moments were “a juxtaposition of playful innocence and stark social awakening. Engaging in gleeful ballroom and gumboot dancing with peers at our local youth club, participating in the school choir, and debating team were not just pastimes—they were vital to our social fabric, knitting together communal bonds and cultural identity.”

 She said these light-hearted moments were intertwined with the era’s profound struggles, such as the June 16 uprisings, which disrupted their education and exposed them as the youth of that era to the harsh realities of apartheid.

“Living so close to these pivotal events sparked an early awareness of social justice and the desire for change, influencing my aspirations and molding my values without overshadowing the simple joys of childhood. Rooted deeply in this rich soil of community and challenge were the towering figures of the women in my family—each a testament to strength and independence. My grandmother, a respected matron at Baragwanath Hospital, and my mother, a strict but devoted single parent, were pivotal in shaping my worldview.”

 “Their resilience and unwavering commitment to our family’s well-being taught me the power of women to lead and inspire change. Along with my aunts, whose independence and fortitude were equally influential, these women crafted a legacy of empowerment that has been fundamental to my life’s work. These formative experiences laid the groundwork for the person I would become, deeply committed to advocacy and empowerment—a theme that would later define my professional and personal journey.”

 She concluded that, “At the youthful age of 56, I find that each year adds not just age but grace, wisdom, and a dash of spirited resilience. Age, after all, isn’t just a number—it’s a badge of honour for the milestones achieved and the impact made, seasoned perfectly with experiences that only time can provide.”

The story was first published by the Diary Series of Deaf People on 9 August.
Author: Vicky Abraham is the Editor-in-Chief of Diary Series of Deaf People
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