In a bid to create awareness and opportunities for persons living with disabilities, Radio Al Ansaar will be hosting a market day on December 3 (Tuesday).
The event, which will also commemorate International Day for Persons Living with Disabilities, is set to take place at 189 West Road in Overport between 9am and 4pm.
Saffura Khan, the event coordinator, said disability awareness was important as it educated the public on how to treat persons with disabilities and how to create opportunities for them.
Khan, who is blind, also hosts the on-air programme, Disability in Focus.
She said one of the objectives of the event was to encourage persons with disabilities to become entrepreneurs.
“In society, there are many able-bodied people who are unemployed. A greater difficulty is experienced by persons living with disabilities. It is therefore important for persons with disabilities to make an income by selling items or services so they can become self-sufficient and empower themselves.”
She said the market day would have a variety of stalls with people with different disabilities and various organisations exhibiting items for sale or offering services.
Among these, The Phoenix Light Group for the Physically Challenged, a non-profit organisation, will have a coffee and tea stall.
There will also be an audiology stand by the Gift of the Givers, who will provide free hearing screenings; and free eye tests will be provided by the KZN Society for the Blind.
“In addition, members from the Department of Justice will educate the public on the rights of persons living with disabilities. It is important that we educate the people on the abilities of the disabled and actually change the word Disability to ‘ThisAbility’,” she said.
For more information, contact Khan on 079 017 0650.