“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”. Helen Keller
Founded in 1929, the CTSB is an innovative, not-for-profit, community based service organisation situated in Salt River in Cape Town.
Supporting Blind and Visually Impaired Persons (VIP’s)
We are a hub of activity and a place of hope and opportunity. Through our professional and committed team of management, trainers and social workers, as well as our dedicated volunteers, we provide Blind and VIP’s within the greater Cape Town and Boland areas with specialised skills development and employment opportunities that will enhance their lives so that they may become independent, self sufficient and empowered members of our society.
We promote the skills and abilities of Blind and VIP’s, irrespective of race, colour, age or creed.
Engaging the Community
We are dedicated to raising awareness and creating a spontaneous appreciation within the greater Western Cape community for the exceptional skills and value that Blind and VIP’s are able to offer. We provide a modern, exciting and highly successful range of professional services, awareness programs and facilities to the community.
History
CTSB was founded in 1929 by a group of Cape Town women. Their objective was to provide much needed training and employment opportunities for Blind and VIP’s within a secure and supportive environment.
Although the Society had for many years provided invaluable support to the community of Blind and VIP’s, in 1997 the CTSB embarked on a program of transforming the Society from a purely welfare model to the current capacity building model.
Instead of only providing sheltered employment and career training, a self sufficiency program was implemented, whereby those in sheltered employment were able to create their own small businesses as suppliers to the society.
Infrastructure enhancements such as the upgrading of our switchboard, launch of a media centre for Blind and VIP’s and upgrading of IT platforms for training and general management, has created an enabling environment for personal endeavour and enhanced levels of service.
CTSB is a positive hub of activity with the flexibility and efficiency to cater to the demands of a modern world.
Mission
Our mission is to develop the abilities and skills of Blind and VIP’s, irrespective of age, colour or creed, through innovative training, job development and job placement programs that facilitate the creation of self confidence as well as economic independence.
Vision
Our vision is to continually expand our training, education and development programs, thereby aligning the skills of Blind and VIP’s with enhanced employment opportunities within the corporate sector.
We are committed to increasing our small business units and developing additional skills within the crafting sector, ensuring accessible, sustainable employment opportunities and enhanced quality of life for Blind and VIP’s.
Values
We strive to capacitate and uplift Blind and VIP’s through education and training in an honest, ethical, caring and supportive environment.
www.ctsb.org.za