BY MIKE TUA
THE majority people living with disability or with special needs in our societies are often regarded as second-class citizens by their community over the years.
This culture has clearly evolved in our employment sector leaving people with disabilities with career goals or employment opportunity finding a hard time to secure their future in the country’s workforce.
Apparently, this is not the case for Noela Olo, 26 years old from Laulasi in the Langalanga lagoon in Malaita province.
Olo is now a full time employee of Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands Limited in the country. Her role in the coconut oil line of production has given her a new benchmark in her career as a female with disability.
“I find my work very interesting because my perfectly normal colleagues are very helpful and supportive in our place of work,” she said.
“My current work is in the coconut oil production but now I am working at the firewood section of the production.”
She had developed a hip problem since childhood and has affected her ability to walk properly in a much more balanced position. Born from a family of seven children – three girls and four boys – Her father divorced her mother while she was only nine years old.
“I never attain any form of education since childhood,” she said.
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) graduates permanently working at the Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands this year notified Noela about opportunity to employ people with disability.
“CBR students have notified me that Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands Pacific is looking to provide job opportunity for people with special needs. “Without hesitation I decided to take up the opportunity as an employee of the company in February this year,” she said with a chuckle impression.
According to Frank Sanders, advisor of the coconut technology at the Pacific Kokonut Solomon Islands Limited, the company is seriously looking to add value to its human resources capacity and to demonstrate such best practices.
“In terms of best practice, we cater for everyone of different ability whether a person is born with disability or with any status in the society, the work place should provide a better work place to cater for their skills or ability,” Sanders said.
Olo has greatly acknowledged Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands for the life-time given opportunity to work in the formal employment despite her disability status.
“I want to say my biggest thanks to the company’s managing director Bob Pollard and my supervisor Frank Sanders for their vision to provide employment and better future for those of us with special needs in the communities.
“I believed that the company has helped me to recognize my potential despite I have some form of disability. With the money I received I normally save few of my income and the rest I used to support my family household needs like food, clothes and etc.,” she said.
There are currently two males with disability working with the company – both are from Malaita – James Aramana and Francis Farage.
She felt more confident and honored at her work place rather than at home.
“I feel more support and respect in my place of work rather at my home and it had helped me both emotionally and psychologically.”
The 26 year old said when I need anything from my brothers; they never are willing to support me so I have to struggle on my own.
“I experienced ill-treatment from my brothers at home. And to my dismay they never respect any of my valuable possessions and most times they will never ask anything I have but they always pleased themselves with whatever I own.”
She lives at Mbokonavera two in Honiara and describes her job as quite challenging sometimes.
“I sometimes find it hard to keep my balance, when selecting oil during production and most times I have to take intervals when carrying out my duty,” she said.
As a responsible member and only employed person in her family, Noela is a role model to her own society and she has big dreams and responsibilities.
“My long term goal is to try and work hard as possible to earn and save my money to help my family in the trouble times ahead or in the future.
“For example – in my family we have a quite high number of boys and I remember at one time I have to give my red money which worth around $600 to fix a problem caused by my fifth born brother after he had an affair with a married woman.
“I normally advise my brothers to find some sort of employment to help support us with our basic needs and wants but most times they never listen, probably because of my disability status,” she said.
