Profile of the Area
Kimberley is the capital of the Northern Cape Province. It has all the facilities typical of a city but is in essence a peaceful and calm city without a well-developed industrial component. Job opportunities are limited and for the person living with a disability non-existent, except for the provision at Yonder. For other disabilities there are very limited job opportunities. NC Mental Health Society and the program Yonder, is in favour of accommodating other disabilities in our protected work facilities.
The level of education of most disabled persons, and especially the intellectually disabled, is poor. Basic skills are taught to the intellectually disabled. The level of education, as well as other handicaps, disqualifies them for admission to the open labour market, and in many instances, the intellectually disabled is permanently excluded from the open labour market because of competitiveness and the need to be productive and self-reliance. Protected work opportunities, within a relaxed, constructive and secure environment, are the best alternative for the intellectually disabled and in their best interest.