The Hope and Rise Disability Project is planning to turn the dilapidated playground between Wendy’s Bar and the Evangelical Lutheran Church Kindergarten into a training centre for its more than 200 members in and around Khorixas.

They are currently waiting for this portion of land to be sold or donated to them by the Khorixas Town Council. The only playground Khorixas, which was initiated more than ten years ago by an American volunteer, has been left neglected for years.

The Hope and Rise Disability Project now plans to build a hall and toilet facilities on the abandoned land. “We will build a 150 square meter hall, plus outside toilets when the Council donates or sells us the land,” said Pieter Jacob, chairperson of the Hope and Rise Disability Project.

They were granted start-up funds by the United State of America embassy several months ago. “With the N$57 986 given to us by the US Embassy, equipment for welding, carpentry, sewing and craftworks were bought,” Jacob explained.

“We appreciate the generous help from the US Embassy and will invite them in a month’s time to see what we have done with the money they gave us,” said Jacob. While they are waiting for Khorixas Town council Jacobs, has allocated three rooms in his house to members of the disabled group to start work. He also erected a shack as shelter behind where a group of disabled people will do carpentry work.

According to Jacobs a group of 20 disabled people will be trained in welding, carpentry, crafts and sewing to uplift their living standards and provide them with new skills.

The construction of the training centre for disabled people may though frustrate hundreds of children who previously entertained themselves at the playground after school. “It will be a bad move for us kids. How can they build something on our playground?” asked 8-year old Martha, one of the children who have been making the most of the space hitherto allocated to the children of Khorixas.