Fifteen people with disabilities could be found inside the terminal and on the tarmac on Monday, getting stuck in to whatever jobs they were assigned. Just because they face a few more challenges than able-bodied people, they were just as keen to be working.
Caroline Booysen (27) and Somikazi Makhanya (23) welcomed passengers and took photos for them. Stenson Meiring, who is blind and accompanied by his dog, Texas, provided beautiful melodies in the arrival hall.
Julian Godfrey (35), Allian Lucas (28), Emil Jansen (24) and Isaac Anthony could be found marshalling airplanes on the tarmac from their wheelchairs. The responsibility of Eben Lamprecht and Lorenzo Lewis was ensuring the safety of passengers’ baggage.
This was a joint initiative between ACSA, the Association of Persons with Disabilities and the George Municipality with the dual purpose of honouring Madiba’s birthday and making persons with disabilities more employable.
Brenda Moses from ACSA’s George Airport and Esther Watson (Gender/Disability co-ordinator for George Municipality) were excited by the concept of exposing so many people with disabilities to various job environments. These included public relations, security, maintenance, electrics and marshalling. Watson had presented this idea to the George Business Chamber and Moses had embraced the opportunity of assisting in providing work experience for people with disabilities.
Moses confirmed that the George Airport would be contracting three persons with disabilities for a two-month period for the next year.
Julian Godfrey (35) admits he was a bit nervous before marshalling Captain Quentin Hill’s 1Time flight from Johannesburg to a standstill, but definitely enjoyed the experience.
When asked how he experienced being marshalled by Godfrey, Captain Hill said it was no problem. The only difference was that Julian was positioned lower than usual in his wheelchair.
An inspired Emil Jansen (24) from Pacaltsdorp had marshalled in the first plane of the morning and said, dit was baie lekker.
All those who marshalled planes, received training last Friday and were assisted on Monday by experts such as firefighter Daan Terblanche.
George Mayor Charles Stander visited the airport and encouraged the job shadowers. He also committed the George Municipality to employ persons with disability for two-month contracts in the next year.
A day after the event, Watson said, "In hindsight the day was a huge success. For us, dealing and facing people with disabilities' problems on a daily basis, a gesture like yesterday is worth more than a year’s intensive awareness raising campaigns. But it is more than just raising awareness, it is investing in the lives of people who deserve the dignity they are worth and emotionally need to feel part of our society."
VIEW MORE PHOTOS OF MANDELA DAY ACTIVITIES HERE.
.jpg)
Julian Godfrey (from left), Brenda Moses (ACSA), Mayor Charles Stander, Esther Watson, Emil Jansen, Isaac Anthony and Allian Lucas on the George Airport’s tarmac.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: LEEANNE PRATT, GEORGE HERALD REPORTER
