Deaf Empowerment Firm <\/a>(DEF) is a social enterprise based in Orlando West, Soweto that aims to change mindsets, to educate and raise awareness about people with hearing impairments. The firm has been running for four years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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DEF\u2019s programmes encompass learnerships, internships, workplace exposure as well as enterprise development.<\/p>\n
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Alex Msitshana (52), a human rights activist and entrepreneur with a passion for people\u2019s development, is the founder and managing director of DEF.<\/p>\n
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In her 30s she became increasingly ill and was diagnosed with HIV, leading to a TB infection the effects of which caused bilateral auditory nerve damage which caused her to become deaf.<\/p>\n
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\u201cMy journey for emancipation led to my absorption and integration into the deaf community and this is where I came face to face with the enormous challenges peoplewith hearing impairments encounter when attempting to access employment opportunities,\u201d Msitshana says.<\/p>\n
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Striving for a more inclusive South Africa<\/h3>\n
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She knew that she had to play a part in working towards inclusive development of deaf people. This led to the birth of DEF whose mission is to transform the economic empowerment landscape for the deaf community and ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities in the South African economy and society at large. <\/p>\n
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\u201cWe have four permanent staff and we bring in an additional four people on a contract basis. We employ people with disabilities. We make our revenue through our very competitive fees structure for services we provide to our clients.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWord of mouth has been a great way of marketing both our programmes and our services within the deaf community,\u201d Msitshana says.<\/p>\n
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In its four years of operating, DEF has empowered more than 300 deaf people in its various programmes.<\/p>\n
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Lindiwe Dladla (40), Msitshana\u2019s interpreter, says that working with the entrepreneur has been very inspirational and very motivating to strive to do more for the deaf community.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhat I\u2019ve learned from Alex is resilience. She never gives up on anything no matter how difficult it is, and is very determined,\u201d Dladla says.<\/p>\n
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A DEF employee, Tebello Khatiti (31), says that he first heard about DEF in 2017, and started volunteering at the organisation in April 2019. He was given a permanent position in January 2020 and he now worksas the office administration assistant.<\/p>\n
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\u201cDEF has helped me because I am able to assist my family financially and I am able to help other deaf people who are looking for opportunities,\u201d Khatiti says.<\/p>\n
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Source: ThisAbility<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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