Friends on common ground
IT WAS a Youth Day with a difference for pupils from special schools in Durban as they commemorated June 16 with able-bodied pupils in Chatsworth, in a bid to highlight their commonalities.
Pupils from Mason Lincoln Special School and West Park Special School told able-bodied children about their plight, show off their sports skills and formed bonds of friendship.
The Forget Me Not Club for the Disabled teamed up with the Nelson Mandela Youth Centre and Dream Catchers to stage the event.
Sagie Naicker, chairman of the Forget Me Not Club, said it showed that people with disabilities were very much a part of society. He said stigmatisation and exclusion were the biggest hurdles disabled people faced.
“It is through such interaction that society will come to appreciate the common humanity that is present in all of us, irrespective of our physical differences.”
The fun day had games that included table tennis, basketball, indoor mini-cricket and talent shows.
Sunshine Nzimande from Mason Lincoln, who has been wheel chair bound for 10 years said, “this is a special outing for special people’’.
“Instead of being bored in my room, I am here meeting people and having fun. I feel I am part of South Africa because I am doing something meaningful for the well-being of disabled youth like myself. I am showing able-bodied pupils that I am as normal as they are.”
Kebashnee Naidoo went to the youth centre to make friends and have fun. She said, “Spending time with disabled youngsters and celebrating youth day is special.
“This outing will teach ablebodied people like myself to be sensitive to the needs of others.”
Nokulunga Sithole, a teacher at Mason Lincoln, lauded the initiative. “Physically challenged pupils spend a lot of time at their schools isolated from society. Today, they are happy to interact with other youths.”
Programme co-ordinator at the centre, Clive Pillay, said: “The youth are best positioned to shape social attitudes and are more likely to embrace inclusion.”