Sasol is providing access to work skills for those with intellectual disability challenges
Sasol Energy Business partnered with The Living Link development organisation to sponsor twelve students with intellectual disability to participate in an Adult Integration and Workplace Readiness Programme. The Living Link is a non-profit organisation, accredited with Services SETA and caters for the disabled community regardless of race, gender and religious background.
Under the programme, students at The Living Link complete a one-year life skills and work readiness programme which incorporates a cleaning and hygiene learnership. The programme focuses on the following areas – employment orientation, personal empowerment, lifestyle management and basic budgeting and financial skills. Job sampling placements during the training year allow students the opportunity to experience different types of jobs and prepares them for the realities of work.
Upon completion of the programme, The Living Link places graduates into an open labour market employment by implementing the Supported Employment Model. Adults with disabilities are placed in various working environments, to do ongoing work where salaries and benefits are real and reflect work performance. The students are provided with placement support and ongoing Job Coaching and training to both employer and employee in order that both the employee and organisational needs are met. To date, six of the students are employed with Pick n Pay supermarket, one is an entrepreneur focusing on gardening & maintenance services, whilst the unplaced students continue to pursue placement opportunities.
Based on our Sasol skills development investment programmes which fosters inclusivity in all we do, the partnership with The Living Link organisation encourages and ensures the transition of these students into permanent employment and development of independent living opportunities all done in compliance with our constitution and the rights of the Human Rights of the induvial. Adults who are differently-abled and have employment are supported in becoming self-sufficient contributing citizens and in so doing make the move into the community where their value-adding contributions are recognised. With structured interventions like these, differently-abled adults are empowered to manage their own lives and households.
Read about other Sasol initiatives where we support our communities, click here.
