Disabled people given a platform to rise
The idea was the brainchild of KwaDabeka resident, Zamo Magwaza.
UKZN final-year occupational therapy and speech therapy students based at Clermont clinic hosted a Boccia Sports Awareness Day on Monday, 16 May.
The event, which was held in partnership with the Clermont Youth Centre, aimed to raise awareness about disability as well as the opportunities available for people with disabilities to be included in meaningful activity within the community.
The idea was the brainchild of KwaDabeka resident, Zamo Magwaza, an international boccia champion who has dreams of coaching his own boccia group in the KwaDabeka/Clermont area.
Through this sports day, Magwaza was able to identify people with disabilities who could join his boccia team and build links with various community stakeholders, such as the Community Youth Centre.
The only barrier now remaining between Magwaza and his dream is for him to obtain a set of specialised boccia balls for his team, which cost around R3 500 a set.
The event was attended by the KZN boccia team from RP Moodley School, Siyabathanda Day Care Centre for children with disabilities, as well as various individuals with disabilities and their families and friends from around the Clermont and KwaDabeka area.
National boccia convener, Nishla Maharaj, introduced the sport to the participants and spectators, and, with the assistance of Zamo Magwaza, provided training to individuals, both with and without disabilities, wishing to participate in the sport.
“In a community where the label of disability often has stigma and exclusion attached to it, the event was a wonderful reminder that people with disabilities are only as disabled as the environment in which they find themselves.
“Through creating enabling environments and opportunities for skills development, the potential of these individuals is unlimited,” said Ilhaam Hoosen, UKZN occupational therapy student.
