Inspiring endless possibilities beyond disabilities

TO empower people by discovering their purpose beyond the conformities of society. This is the seed that was planted in the heart of, Julia van Zyl giving birth to her passion project and personal calling, Made for More.

Made for More is a Non-Profit Company (NPC) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) that aims to include, empower and equip people with disabilities through sport and mental health programmes.

Born in a family of sports lovers, Julia studied a Sport Science Degree majoring in Psychology and Disabilities from the University of Stellenbosch. “Through working with people living with disabilities in my degree, I realised that this was my passion and purpose. I came alive when working with people with disabilities. That’s where God started speaking to me about doing something about it. ”

In hopes to immerse herself in the world of disability, she took a gap year after her studies and went abroad to work as a camp counsellor in California at a camp predominantly for people who were blind and visually impaired. Here, her eyes were opened to the many possibilities and opportunities available to people living with disabilities, especially in sport, and wanted to bring that back to South Africa. She returned home in 2014 where she worked at a special needs school as a sports coordinator. The drive to make a difference through sport was put in motion.

“As my relationships grew with the children, a deep yearning for them to know that they were created for more began to stir in my heart. While journeying with a boy, Ranetsi Manyoni and seeing the effect that sport had in transforming his life physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, I began to wonder why it should stop there,” she said.

Julia believes that God has made every person with a plan, purpose and passion for their lives. Hence, ‘Made for More’ was born, which she admits came with its fair share of challenges in the beginning but today reaps beautiful rewards.

“There was a large season of hustling but the sacrifice was well worth it when I look at it now. We see over 300 people with disabilities in our various programmes. It is our job and our privilege to help people discover what their purpose is. ‘Made for More’ uses sport as a vehicle to bring hope, build relationships, and instil morals and values, while equipping and allowing athletes to pursue their sporting careers provincially and on a national level. When coaching, we don’t just focus on a physical, one-dimensional level, but we seek to go deeper and to invest in the heart and mind of the athlete,” she said.

The organisation runs various projects and programmes, ranging between mentorship programmes, leadership camps, community projects, exercise therapy, surf therapy, wheelchair basketball, sports camps, awareness events, clinical and psychosocial support, career guidance, sustainable farming project and training to help organisations to become inclusive, adaptive and accessible for people with disabilities.

“The idea is to shift the narrative that a person living with a disability has to be viewed as the one in need but instead that they can actually make an impact in the world.”

In her line of work, Julia has noted that the system fails people living with disabilities in terms of meaningful and practical opportunities in the areas of employment, public transport and accessibility to public facilities. In the world of sports, she envisions a shift in perspective in greater society, where government, media and everyday people support disability sports as they would a rugby or soccer game.

When asked what she loves most about what she does, Julia shared, “I love the stories and the testimonies that people share about their walks in life and how our programmes have empowered them to go on to do ‘more’ as well as give back to their communities.”

Made for More works with many organisations and communities throughout KZN and relies on donors and public funding to keep the dream alive. Their offices are based at the Blue Roof Life Space at 178 Austerville Drive in Wentworth.

To join, support or volunteer at the organisation call 083 235 1083 or email Julia@madeformore.org.za