Western Cape Blind Association (WEBA)

The Western Cape Blind Association (WEBA) is a nonprofit NGO, functioning as a development catalyst for blind and partially sighted men and women, living in the underdeveloped urban areas of the Cape Metropol in the Western Cape. WEBA is currently serving 83 members, who are generally dependent on a state grant and live, in most cases, in the rented accommodation of family and friends. Like many such organizations providing services to the disabled, WEBA is seeking to create an enabling environment for people to overcome their challenging circumstances. WEBA believes that employment for the visually impaired need to utilize the existing talents of the blind and provide a social link between the blind and society. They want to provide a job with dignity that inspires them to pursue a better future.

WEBA has created an Aromatherapy massage service which is a creative avenue for employment of the blind, as well as a means of generating income for the organization - which had traditionally depended on small donations. Aromatherapy massage provides an equal opportunity for blind and partially sighted men and women in the open labor market. It is through training in this field that blindness becomes the greatest ability and asset. Their sense of touch is stronger than those of sighted individuals. Aromatherapy massage training began in August 1999 at the School of Holistic Aromatherapy. In March 2000, the first five WEBA members graduated as therapists and are presently engaged in serving a client base of 300 people, of which seventy are regular clients. Half of the price of each massage goes to the employee and the other half goes to the organization to help sustain its programs.

Through various marketing tools, like radio, TV, and community newspapers, WEBA has managed to reach a wide range of clients, including: senior citizens, students, doctors, and actors. It is mainly through existing clients that WEBA reaches new clients. The practice has grown overnight and it has been necessary to train another nine members in Aromatherapy massage to meet this demand. Additionally, WEBA is corporations, offering massage to employees. WEBA is also approaching hotels and conference organizers to offer services in a 'package deal.' Looking for providing a variety of alternative jobs for its members, WEBA is also exploring other therapies in which blind people can be trained.