It is ability beyond disability for Amina

Teacher Amina Farouk (25) from Ormonde wants to be celebrated and celebrate all other disabled people, as November is celebrated globally as Disability Awareness Month.

The international theme proclaimed by the United Nations for this year is Removing Barriers to Create an Inclusive and Accessible Society for All.

On October 30, Amina received an award for being one of 40 women of wonder in Gauteng. There were 3 000 women nominated and 40 recipients of the Woman of Wonder I Conquer Award.

These awards are given to women who overcame any struggle in life. It was hosted by Panache Women of Wonder Awards at Hilton Hotel, Sandton.

She described herself as a woman who went from zero to a motivator in a few years. Amina related her story to COURIER on how life has been living with disability.

Amina’s story

“It was in 2004 and still fresh in my memory; it’s like it happened yesterday. When I was eight years old, coming out of the shops, a guy lost control of his car and drove onto me. I remember glass shatter, I remember falling down, an ambulance came and I was taken to hospital.

“When I woke up, the psychologist told me I lost my right leg, and the first thing that came to me was to find it. However, my parents explained to me that my leg is gone. It had to be amputated from the hip at Milpark Hospital,” explained Amina.

For Amina, life wasn’t that bad from eight to 10 years old, as she said her peers were very understanding. However, high school was a different story. She was bullied.

“Learners in high school were not so kind. I remember not being invited to a party because I have a disability. I was not included in many of the activities at school. That is why I wanted to be a teacher at a young age. I wanted to break that stigma and make a difference,” she said.

In 2015, after finishing school the previous year, Amina was a volunteer teacher at Gold Reef Private School.

“There I was given an opportunity to be a student-teacher and then English teacher. At 20, I was the head of the department. All this happened while I was studying part-time through Unisa. At 24, I was the deputy principal at the International School of Cordoba. Now I have a BA in Education and BA Honours in Sociology,” she said.

She serves the education sector at Cambridge level and teaches a Science and Writers Workshop at Nova Pioneer Ormonde Primary School.

How has life treated Amina?

“I had to take what I deserve. It’s been a fight because people don’t accept disabled people. We must be received as humans as well. I’ve done hiking, rock climbing and any other things an abled-bodied person can do.

“We need to be included, give us a chance. I’ve lived with the motto of ability beyond disability for the past 17 years.

“I have a passion for women empowerment, mental health awareness and child care. I mentor young women because I was in a position of authority at a young age,” she said.

What do you want to see change?

“We want to be included socially and in working space. Why do people park in disabled parking? People don’t care. When there are jobs you will find the advertisements say: learnership for disabled and stipend. I mean, I’m a qualified teacher with two degrees, I don’t need a learnership, give me a job!

“I have always loved the education sector. I want to go out there and make my mark, especially in the disability sector. I want to put myself out there and do outreach programmes, share my story, and if someone is willing to listen, I will take that opportunity,” explained Amina.

For interactions with Amina, visit her Instagram page: ms_amina_gp

Disability Awareness Month

People with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

Disability Awareness Month offers an opportunity for every person and institution to remove these barriers and improve the quality of life of people with disabilities through concrete action.

The Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities is responsible for driving the government’s equity, equality and empowerment agenda in terms of those with disabilities.