By Palesa Mofoti
More than 1300 learners from the various Schools for learners with Special Needs (LSEN) in the Francis Baard District benefitted from the Auto Engaged Youth Empowerment Program (AEYEP) Career Exhibition at the Northern Cape Urban TVET College on15 October 2025.
The Exhibition, hosted under the theme “Empowering, Supporting and uplifting young people with disabilities”, focused on special needs only. This is a program that focuses on career development within the Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) career paths.
AEYEP was developed by Barolong Ba Ratlou consultancy and fully funded by the merSETA.
The aim of the Career Exhibition is however to ensure that individuals living with disabilities are also taken seriously and exposed especially within the STEM related career paths.
Forming part of the exhibitors were the automotive motor industries, Cherry and Ford as well as Transnet from the Freight industry to give learners insights on the vast career options they have as persons living with disabilities.
Thandiwe Mfulo a member of the disability community and owner of Ratisino Trading, said her company manufactures paving bricks using recycled plastic material. She highlighted that she has never worked a day in her life, but was able to create machinery that produces eco-friendly paving bricks.
“We are the most intelligent people, it’s just that we do things differently,” said Mfulo.
Dirk Niels principal of NJ Heyns Special School said the program was very insightful, is something that he has never experienced in my 20 years of being an educator.
“It will assist in opening doors for our learners,” said Niels.
Deputy principal NCUTvet Elizabeth Musi reiterated the importance of making TVET institutions fashionable through encouraging learners that courses offered at the institution also fall in the STEM career paths.
Senior Education Specialist in Curriculum Khare Oliphant urged all present stakeholders to ‘come together and assist in addressing unique needs and challenges face by persons with disabilities have’.
Brolong Ba Ratlou concluded the program with donations to the various schools in attendance.
Elizabeth Conradie received Toiletries and Diapers, Nj Heyns received Welding Equipment for the school, Retlameleng Special School received a Grader Machine, Boitumelo Special School received reading books while Kimberley Training Centre received sports uniform for the center.
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