(2 Minutes)
Multinational accounting and business management software company Sage recently hosted an event in Soweto to engage with people living with disabilities in the surrounding areas. This is part of SAGE’s global program designed to help underrepresented groups get into or back to work. In South Africa, it focuses on recruiting people living with disabilities into a 12-month internship program.
In 2021, Sage recruited 13 interns living with disabilities into its customer services and finance operations division.
Faith Ramusetheli, the Transformation director at Sage Africa and the Middle East said: “An estimated 7.5% of the country’s population lives with some form of disability, and less than 1% of people living with a disability are employed. This is a reality for many people living with disabilities who are excluded from career opportunities through various barriers. These include physical work environments that are not accessible; with a lack of assistance, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices.”
Also Read:
https://trendsnafrica.com/afdb-consultative-mission-to-the-southern-african-development-community/
https://trendsnafrica.com/business-unity-south-africa-against-giving-universal-basic-income-grant/
Ramusetheli added that the company is committed to a bold Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategy that enables colleagues, partners, customers, and communities to succeed. At the Soweto event, prospective applicants explored what it feels like to work at the organisation and learned more about the program and the roles.
They also received help preparing for Sage’s application process, including sessions on improving interview skills, and building their personal brand.
In the year-long program, interns receive on-the-job training, coaching, and mentoring introduced to a Sage ‘buddy’ to help them navigate the business and start their work with confidence.
