Citizen of the Year not thrown by challenges
Ex-judo star teaches visually impaired, deaf, disabled kids
HAVING survived in the tough world of judo, Sondisa Magajana was unperturbed when friends and colleagues told him he was on mission impossible trying to coach the sport to deaf, visually impaired and disabled children.
But four years later, the Volkswagen employee, 37, gives instruction to more than 300 children, including able-bodied pupils, in the Eastern Cape on a daily basis.
Even though he works as a process monitor for the Uitenhage company, not much stands in the way of his passion to give something back to the community.
Magajana’s efforts have seen him nominated for the Herald Citizen of the Year award.
Last year, his initiative in creating the Judo Institute for People with Special Needs earned him the Volunteer of the Year accolade at the SA Sports Awards for his involvement in the community.
The schools benefiting from Magajana’s training are Khanyisa School for the Blind (KwaDwesi), Reuben Birin School for the Deaf and Lonwabo School for the Physically Disabled (both Missionvale), Cape Recife (Summerstrand), Northern Lights (Cotswold) and Efata School for the Blind and Deaf (Mthatha).
After earning a bronze medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Magajana said he knew the writing was on the wall for his career.
“When I retired I wanted to plough something back into the community and I wanted to come up with something different,” Magajana said. “I have always had a strong passion to help down-trodden people, people who battle to do things for themselves. “So I did some research about coaching the blind and the deaf, and everyone I mentioned it to said it would be impossible. They said you could never train the blind and deaf judo, not to mention the paraplegics, but I told them I was going to give it a shot.
“These children do not have many options for other sports, so they enjoyed this opportunity.
“The thing about this is some are able to compete in the ablebodied sections and have become a force to be reckoned with.”
A visit to the gym at Khanyisa School for the Blind revealed the eagerness with which the children embraced the sport. Even the blind competitors link up with a helper and take part in all activities without hesitation.
Khanyisa teacher Buyiswa Hlazo said she had no doubt the judo had helped the children.
“We started off with 10 kids and now there are 25,” she said. “They like this sport and come from [the nearby boarding] school after meals. It is boosting their self-esteem. They don’t feel sorry for themselves and become confident.
“As teachers we are very happy with this because after school everyone has to do some activity. So the judo is keeping them busy.”
Cwenga Nomganga, 17, who is visually impaired and has excelled at a provincial and national level, said judo was not only a way to protect herself, but also gave her self-respect and discipline.
Volkswagen has given Magajana the support to pursue his endeavours, which take place out of his working hours. VWSA general manager Matt Gennrich said the firm supported the initiative.
“Essentially what he is doing is his idea, his knowledge. We believe it is a good thing that he is helping in the communities.” – Additional reporting by Sive Zuzile