Yaniba Zega (34), a woman with double disabilities (deaf and dumb), is a member of a poor family in Nazalou Lolowua, a village in Nias Islands CDRM&CDS has accompanied for years. Her disability doesn’t deter her from being productive everyday helping her mother cooking at home, tapping rubbers and taking care of pigs and chickens.
Before the death of her mother by the end of 2017, Yaniba once expressed her wish, using sign language with her mother, to learn tailoring. In 2018 CDRM&CDS supported her with tailoring training and materials. Three months later she completed the training and started to sew her own dress and tailoring business. Yaniba has earned from her tailoring business to support her family.
“Disability should not deter me from working productively. I manage my time well to work daily in the field tapping rubber trees, doing housework, taking care of pigs and chickens and doing this tailoring work as usual. Recently, I was asked by CDRM&CDS to produce cloth masks in the midst of Covid-19 outbreak. Though I cannot hear nor speak, I actively participate in meetings as I am a member of “SENDORO” Disabled People Organization in Nazalou Village” Yaniba said. Yaniba thanked CDRM&CDS for facilitating her tailoring training. “My skills in tailoring has changed my dignity. No more people feel, as used to be, “pity” on me. Now people in this village admire my tailoring skill” expressed Yaniba proudly.
Written by Ertatina Zebua
CDRM&CDS Community Empowerment Facilitator in Nias Islands