South African Project Empowers Deaf Community with Farming Skills and Jobs

South African Project Empowers Deaf Community with Farming Skills and Jobs

In the Westonaria Agri-Park near Johannesburg, deaf workers are thriving as they plant tomatoes and lettuce in complete silence, thanks to the Voiceout Deaf farming collective, an initiative that is transforming lives by offering agricultural training and employment opportunities to South Africans with hearing impairments.

At first glance, the busy farm seems like a typical agricultural workspace, with workers laboring under the sun. However, there is one stark difference—the absence of sound. While the earth is tilled and crops are grown, it’s the silence of deaf workers communicating through sign language that sets this farm apart. Surprisingly, despite their silent environment, these workers have found their voices—not in sound, but in the language of farming.

Matebogo Victoria, an entrepreneur with a hearing disability, founded the Voiceout Deaf farming collective after noticing the struggles faced by the deaf community. Many deaf South Africans face a dual challenge: limited access to education and job opportunities due to communication barriers. Paradoxically, while the world has evolved with technology and advanced communication, the deaf still grapple with an overlooked exclusion. Victoria’s decision to leave a stable corporate job to create this inclusive farming project directly addresses the contradiction between the rising demand for agricultural workers and the lack of accessible opportunities for the disabled.

What do you think about South Africa’s growing recognition of sign language? Can initiatives like Voiceout Deaf change the employment landscape for people with disabilities in your country? Share your thoughts and join the conversation on how society can better integrate marginalized communities into the workforce.

Source: Africa News