Proving “Disability is not Inability”

Proving “Disability is not Inability”

Joseph and the water storage tank he uses to run his water vending business.
Sighing, Joseph begins his story. “Countless times, I have sat deep in thought, day dreaming, until a hand taps me, reminding me of the harsh reality of being physically challenged, dejected, unemployed and almost hopeless.” Joseph Apam Tetteh has for the greater part of his adult life seen himself as a burden on his family due to his inability to bring home an income, instead relying on the meager household income brought in by his siblings.
Joseph, 46, was time and again disappointed by many individuals and organizations who promised to help improve his life either by offering employment or through support. When he turned 40, he gave up hope of being able to do any meaningful work.
As the USAID-funded Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene for the Urban Poor (WASH-UP) project began making inroads in the Abafum-Kowe-Abese section of the La Township, his brother heard of opportunities to start water and sanitation businesses with support from the project and wasted no time informing Joseph.
That was the life-changing moment he had been hoping for, and he seized the opportunity. Joseph approached the local non-governmental organization facilitating the process, and soon got registered with the aim of starting a water vending business. He received basic business development training including book keeping, customer relations, and water supply maintenance. After the training, his family helped him apply for a micro-loan, part of which he used to buy an 850 gallon capacity water storage tank. With the rest of the loan, he constructed a platform to elevate the tank and connect it to the main water lines. Joseph’s water vending point increases the amount of water available in the La Abafum-Kowe-Abese section of the township and provides him with employment.
Smiling as he attends to residents who come to buy water from his water vending points, he recollects how his life
changed. “Now I have a job. My water business is doing very well because patronage is very good and I have a constant source of supply.” Joseph has since completed repaying his micro-loan. He is now economically independent, and able to make enough profit to provide for his basic needs and is no longer dependent on his family members for survival. He is also able to save regularly with a bank where he has opened an account. Joseph has lived up the adage ‘disability is not inability.’