December 7, 2004
By Anish Abraham
SOME 200 physically and mentally disabled children spent the day listening to music, surrounded by the subtle smells of the soil and the bright summer green of the full-leafed trees at the Johannesburg Botanic Gardens in Emmarentia.
They were the special guests of Johannesburg City Parks, which hosted its fourth 'Reach out and Touch' function commemorating the International Day of the Disabled on 3 December.
The children came from across Johannesburg - from centres such as Kopanang and Tebogo in Orange Farm, Sunshine in Eldorado Park, Ratanang near Chris Hani Baragwanath, Nkanyezi in Orlando West, Vutomi Inyiko in Meadowlands Zone 6 and Pillsbury in Kew.
They were bussed to the gardens, where they were treated to a feast of sound, sights and, of course, food.
The Soweto Marimba Kids, a marimba band from Dobsonville whose musicians are between 11 and 14 years old, the singers of Ikwezi Choral from Soweto and a clown on stilts provided the entertainment.
And, of course, Santa Claus was on hand to make sure there were gifts for everyone.
City Park's Managing Director, Luther Williamson, thanked the sponsors - Sasol, Uthingo, Avion Industrial, Ceres, Mvelaphanda, Nando's, Solly's Discount World and Johannesburg Water - for their role in making the event possible.
He pointed out that despite 10 years of freedom, some people were still confined and lacked opportunities to progress in society. These included lack of facilities and access to facilities for those with disabilities.
The lack of involvement by men in caring for the disabled also disappointed Williamson. "I see only women taking care of these kids. Where are the men?" he said, adding: "Taking care of the disabled is a culture that we have to start embracing."
Sasol's General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Sej Motau, said his company was proud to be associated with the event and pleased to see the number of children being invited steadily increase since 2001.
He said as people continued to build a better South Africa, the disabled "should not be left behind".
Isaac Lelaka, representing National Lottery operator, Uthingo, said: "It is good to bring joy and cheer to hundreds of children who would otherwise have been neglected."
Towards the end of the function, Santa Claus dipped into his goody bag to give each childcare centre a large soft teddy bear, a symbol of the other gifts to be given to them.
Jenny Moodley, spokesperson for City Parks, said the event formed part of the company's social responsibility drive. Since its inception in 2001, an influx of sponsors had ensured it remained a big annual event
She said City Parks was also looking toward making facilities more disabled friendly. A first was the wheelchair-friendly hiking trail at Melville Koppies.
Jerry Ntimbane, Manager of the Pillsbury Childcare Centre in Alexandra, said much had changed since 1994. "We have increased accessibility and know how to get help from social services."
Theresia Ralintja, who works with cerebral palsy sufferers at Ratanang added that an outing such as the one to the gardens was vital in the children's development. Children who were severely mentally handicapped needed much stimulation to help them progress. "Such an occasion allows us to show that we really care for these children."
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