Andrea Chothia
PRINCESS Khabingesi smiles broadly and starts signing gracefully – for the first time in her life she has a job, one that she is very grateful for.
In 2014 she was despondent. Deaf since birth, Khabingesi never thought anyone would employ her. She is one of 1.6 million deaf or hard of hearing people in South Africa, of which 70% are unemployed.
But then DeafSA and the Carlson Rezidor hotel group went into partnership and built the Park Inn Radisson on the site of DeafSA’s community centre. A third of the staff are deaf and they work across the departments.
Khabingesi, 32, works in the housekeeping department and expressed how happy she feels: “When I started, I had no experience but I quickly learnt and now I am so happy to have a job.”
Alison Swannack, 49, has recently become the personal assistant for the general manager and she is most proud of the bridge that has been built between the deaf staff and the hearing.
Hotel general manager Clinton Thom, 38, said they had received nothing but positive feedback from the guests.
The first general manager conference will be held on June 1 where 11 of the deaf staff members will showcase a signing of the national anthem and have the opportunity to speak from their hearts.