Organisation hosts Champions High Tea to mark annual Casual Day

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) hosted a Champions High Tea on May 4 for its annual Casual Day.

As the organisation moves from ambassadors to champions, the informative session aimed to empower the selected Casual Day champions and familiarise themselves with the NCPD.

Casual Day manager Louis Botha said the selected individuals will help to create awareness for people living with disabilities and do fundraising especially through social media platforms.

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“The position is voluntary, which proves how committed our team is.

“We want to create awareness about the inclusion of persons with disabilities within the whole society in South Africa.

“Basically, we share their stories and that they are also persons with disabilities,” explained Botha.

They will launch the campaign on May 16, with Casual Day taking place on September 6.

Both encouraged the public to support the campaign.

Stickers will be available at retail shops in July.

ALSO READ: NCPD encourages the community to support Casual Day

NPOs that would like to participate can get stickers from the organisation by registering on Casual Day’s website.

“We have participating NPOs throughout the country that ordered the stickers to sell.

“A registered NPO can sell the sticker for R20 but they keep a rebate for themselves.

“So they already fundraise for themselves as well,” added Botha.

According to the organisation, people with disabilities remain marginalised in South Africa.

Champion Daphney Twala has been working with the organisation since 2014 despite facing challenges because of her physical impairment.

She is a poet under the stage name 4 Fingers Short.

“I come from a rural area where disability was viewed as being bewitched or cursed.

“For me, to be here today is a privilege,” she stated.

She has been involved in motivating schools and companies through NCPD’s Disability Quality Training.

“I love persons with disabilities, and I love motivating people.

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“I put myself out there because if they see me, they would want to be seen as well.”

She urged communities to get involved, “If persons without disabilities also become champions, the world would be a better place because it doesn’t help if we are champions by ourselves, and everyone else is just going on about their daily business.”

To support the cause, people can purchase merchandise and physical stickers or digital stickers in support of persons with disability.