A ‘dream come true’ moment for proprietors of Deaf Enterprise who in 2022 were awarded K40,000.00 empowerment grant from the Bahati Constituency Development Fund to undertake a business in Carpentry and Joinery. The proprietors who were formally given the money in February.
2023 say the fund has allowed them to stop the ‘begging’ attitude, as well as reduced dependency on parents while allowing them to support their families.
Deaf Enterprise is a 10-man company in Mansa District comprised of 9 deaf youths and 1 deaf man between the ages 17 years and 48 years old.
Morgan Moba who is the oldest member in the company says communication barriers and discrimination against differently abled people during recruitment and in work environments brought the 10 like-minded men together with a common goal to better their lives.
In 2022, Deaf Enterprise applied for the Empowerment Grant under the 2022 Bahati Constituency Development Fund with hopes to kick start their business. The Company was fortunate and was awarded K40,000.00 – the maximum amount which can be given under this category.
Mr. Moba says the biggest motivating factor for the registration of the company was the fact that all 10 members faced discrimination when it came to employment in the private sector and general livelihood in the communities.
“And most private companies shunned offering us employment even though we can do what most people think we cannot do. Some of us have already completed various training like food production, metal fabrication, carpentry and Joinery, bricklaying, plumbing and agriculture among many skills”, he added.
Despite possessing the right qualifications, Mr. Moba says differently abled people still face challenges because many people in society have negative attitudes towards them which results in situations such as failure to find jobs.
The predominantly youthful group met through weekly group meetings, held under a tree at the Zambia Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) offices in Mansa District. The meetings were used to share ideas on how best they could change their lives from the ‘begging’ narrative.
In 2022, some members saw a public notice from Mansa Municipal Council notifying the public on the need for Clubs and Cooperatives to apply for grants under the respective constituencies. With the ideas already discussed, some members came together and registered a company – Deaf Enterprises and applied for Empowerment Grants under the Bahati Constituency Development Fund.
Mr. Moba adds that they also faced a few challenges during the application process such as finding money for printouts and communication barriers in different offices because many offices do not have officers who understand sign language and can interpret.
He also attributes the delay in the company accessing their monies despite being successful to communication barriers as the Local Authority officers were notifying successful applicants via phone call in addition to the public notices. He said the members of the company were not aware that the successful list was published on notice boards and social media in November 2022.
In February 2023, an officer from the Mansa Council, in a last attempt to get hold of the company’s contact person, called the listed number which went unanswered and then left a text message.
It was through the message that the company’s contact person learnt that their company application was successful, and their monies were yet to be accessed after submission of account details to the Mansa Municipal Council.
Despite these challenges, Mr. Moba says Officers from the Mansa Municipal Council were very helpful as they explained the application process very well which made it easier for them to do the right things and successfully submit their application within the timelines given.
Mr. Moba says since the company commenced its operations in March 2023, the business has been growing steadily.
“At first many people did not believe that we can produce quality works. Our first client was our landlord who ordered four doors and requested that we install them. He was very impressed with our workmanship and thereafter started telling his friends about us, he added.
The company has since seen steady growth as a result of the referral marketing by satisfied clients.
Deaf Enterprises currently makes chairs, doors, coffee tables, and desks among other pieces of furniture using both soft and hard wood.
“We are very grateful to the Government for introducing the CDF because it is helping many vulnerable people and is helping to eradicate poverty in our families and in the country at large by creating employment,” said Mr. Moba
He however, stated that in order to increase capacity and production, Deaf Enterprises still needs a table saw and a table planner, equipment they cannot afford for now as the business is still in its infantry stage.
