Disabled’s big walk for more awareness

TV personality shows support as initiative kicks off at Biko Bridge

ON YOUR marks, get set, walk.” With these words, hundreds of visually, sensory, intellectually and physically disabled persons set off on a 3km annual big walk for the disabled yesterday morning.

Kicking off from the Steve Biko Bridge to the East London City Hall, the participants were given two hours to finish.

Walkers came from as far as Mthatha, Butterworth, Zwelitsha and other towns around the province to take part.

Actress and TV personality Charmaine Mtinta, who plays Portia Nkosi in SABC 1’s sitcom Our Perfect Family, took on the role of emcee and kept the participants and guests entertained with her bubbly personality.

Mntintwa highlighted how important such initiatives were, saying people with disabilities did not need sympathy but rather recognition that they were human too.

“Able people at times tend to be very ignorant and not empathise with people and their disabilities. It is our duty to tap into their world and walk in their shoes.

“The walk was fun and a great initiative.”

Guests from local and provincial government, the South African Braille Authority and corporates also shared messages of support and outlined interventions and plans for people with disabilities.

Konwaba Training Institute (KTI) CEO Nandipha Bhali said they were committed to work tirelessly and making a positive contribution to the disability sector and assist government to achieve their goals in line with the National Disability Strategy.

She said the big walk formed part of the programmes in the institution and would be organised annually while developing disabled students with their academic programmes.

“The establishment of the disability unit is meant to inspire confidence in people with disabilities, to promote diversity within the disability sector and also consolidate partnerships with strategic stakeholders within the disability sector.”

Bhali said KTI had already employed two people with visual impairment.

“This is our maiden event for the people with disabilities and it will be one of our annual premium events going forward, as adopted in our strategic planning session.

“We hope and trust that government, the corporate sector and society at large will work with us in this noble cause.”

Taking part in the walk was 64-year-old Elvis Thwasa from Dutywa who is blind. He said he was happy to have been part of the event.

“It was nice to have an event just for us,” said Thwasa. — qaqambam@dispatch.co.za