BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE– For many learners at Matsetsa School for the Deaf High, Thursday marked more than the arrival of new equipment. It marked the beginning of new possibilities, as vocational tools worth over E430 000 were officially handed over by Deputy Prime Minister Her Excellency Thulisile Dladla.
The equipment, donated by the Government of Türkiye through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), is expected to transform practical learning at the school while equipping learners with skills that can help them earn a living long after they leave the classroom.
The donation includes sewing machines and sewing kits, welding equipment, upholstery tools and arts supplies, providing learners with opportunities to develop practical skills in different trades.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Dr. Nomsa Maseko said the equipment would strengthen the school’s vocational training programme and open doors for learners to become self reliant. She revealed that the school plans to establish a mobile boutique where products made by the learners will be sold at festivals, sporting events and other public gatherings.
She said the initiative will give pupils real business experience while creating an income-generating project for the school. Dr. Maseko also appealed to emaSwati to support the initiative by purchasing products made by the learners.
Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla thanked the Government of Türkiye and TIKA for their generous support. She explained that the donation came after she identified the school’s needs during an earlier visit and sought assistance from development partners to bridge the gap.
The school also celebrated another meaningful gift after receiving a dairy cow from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office. Besides providing fresh milk to improve learners’ nutrition, the cow will also serve as a practical learning tool, allowing pupils to gain hands-on experience in dairy farming.
Looking beyond graduation, the Deputy Prime Minister encouraged the school to keep in touch with former learners so that government can monitor their progress. She said that if resources permit, her office hopes to provide start-up kits to graduates to help them establish their own businesses.
She also called on the public to support the learners by buying the products they produce, saying such support would help build confidence and create sustainable opportunities for young people living with disabilities.
“By investing in these learners, we are investing in their independence, dignity and future contribution to the nation,” she said.
After the handover, the Deputy Prime Minister visited St. Joseph’s School to inspect progress on the construction of the boys’ hostel and assess proposed sites for the planned girls’ hostel, reaffirming government’s commitment to improving learning conditions for vulnerable children across Eswatini.
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(Courtesy Pic)
