Mini bus for disabled persons

Three Dutch nationals, William Pynenburg and Beerens and Resi Van Bockel, on Tuesday handed over a minibus to the Serrekunda Social Workshop, at a ceremony held at the St Charles Luwanga Parish premises in Faji Kunda.

The donation is in response to a request made by Sister Bernadette SM, for help to transport the disabled persons from their houses to the workshop and back home. Receiving the keys, Sister Bernadette SM gave a brief history of the social workshop, noting that the project begun two years back and was initiated by a Dutch couple, Winnie and Hennie Van de Meer. She also said the aim of the initiative is to help disabled people by taking them off the streets and teaching them to become self reliant.

Activities at the workshop include sewing, tie and dye, rosary making. The sister explained that they now have a thriving making factory. Speaking earlier, William Pynenburg explained that they met sister Bernadette and visited her church, where discussed some of the needs of the disabled. It was from that encounter, he noted, that the idea of the bus came to their plan.

For their part, Winnie and Hennie Van der Meer, who are the founders of Serrekunda Social Workshop, said they came into the country a decade ago as  tourists, but realised the need to assist the disabled. They further indicated that some of these disabled are learning how to sew bags, while others are being taught different professions. They added that the disabled persons who are part of the project no longer go out to beg in the streets and promised to expand the project to other areas in the near future.

Emily Mendy Gomez, head of the Serrekunda Social Workshop, expressed her happiness and gratitude, assuring the donors that they will make best use of the mini bus. The ceremony was attended by a good  number of Dutch nationals. The guests were welcomed in the pure African tradition, with cultural music and dancing.