Batswana Volunteers in Canada

The professional integration of disabled people is at the heart of the entrepreneurial vision of Godisa, a Uniterra partner organization in Botswana. From February to April 2005, the Microniks company from Dorval, Quebec, has hosted three volunteers from Botswana for a specialized training in micro-welding. These young technicians, including two deaf women, are specialists in the SolarAid manufacture.

André Baune, from Microniks, stresses the importance of this partnership: "Following their training, these young deaf African women can disseminate their knowledge to other deaf in Brazil, Philippines, and Jordan."
 
Volunteer's words...

  “I want to help other deaf people to have access to education training and employment. I would like to use my skills and opportunities to help other deaf people achieve their goals” – Sarah Phiri, technician


“I believe that if deaf people are given opportunities and support they can achieve considerable success. I want to use my skills  to teach other deaf people how to assemble hearing aids.” – Akanyang Keloatswe, technician
 
“My work with Godisa, alongside the mainly deaf workforce, has deepened my understanding of issues relating to deaf empowerment. I  hope to use my technical knowledge of communications devices and my exposure to deaf issues to further the aims of deaf people around the world” – Tendekay Katsinga, Group leader and Hearing Aid and Solar Recharger Technician

Godisa is a partner organisation of Uniterra in the Private Sector Development in Botswana. Our joint actions contribute to the achievement of the third Millennium Development Goal: Gender Egality.