Casual Day stars get recognition

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) rewarded individuals, organisations, schools, businesses and government departments for their contribution in various activities to commemorate the 2018 Casual Day during an awards ceremony at a venue on the outskirts of the city on Friday.
The achievement awards were given to Shayandima based Tshilidzini Special School and Fulufehlo Special School from Thohoyandou for best performing non-government organisation or special school nationally. Khanyisa Education Centre from Giyani was acknowledged for raising the most sticker donations as a mainstream supporting school. Awards for best performing companies in the province went to Edcon Limited, Transnet Freight Rail Limpopo and Venetia Diamond Mine. Hoedspruit Air-force Base was named best performing defence department while national accolade for the best performing Police division went to Social Work Services Polokwane. Mokopane Hospital was named the best performing government department. Special tribute was paid to Edcon, the NCPD’s main sponsor for the past six years. In 2018 the NCDP raised R3,9 million through sticker income at their tills, over and above their sponsorship amount in excess of R9 million.
A press release issued by the organisation quoted its National Director Therina Wentzel-Du Toit to have listed milestones for 2019 as the NCPD commemorating its 80th year of successful service delivery and advocacy and Casual Day celebrating 25 years of making a positive impact in the social and economic inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. Casual Day, conceptualised in tandem with South Africa’s new democracy, continues to support more than 500 schools and organisations of and for persons with disabilities, it was learnt.
“We are proud of Casual Day’s ongoing success and growth these past two and a half decades. The project started with a total income of R443 000 in 1995, and in 2018 we reached R31,5 million. I am completely in awe of what the Casual Day funds have made possible in all the nine provinces. We have persons with disabilities who now have the relevant devices to engage in broader society,” the statement read.
According to Wentzel-Du Toit the NCDP now has skills development centres where there were none before.
Another highlight of the event was the announcement of the 2019 Casual Day theme being ‘Time to Shine with Persons with Disabilities’. This year’s nationwide activities will be held on 6 September and citizens are urged to buy stickers to support the day.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za