The ambassador for the Special Olympics in Vhembe, Rofhiwa Manwadu, donated sanitary pads and toothpaste to pupils of the Fhulufhelo Special School in Thohoyandou.
Manwadu, who is employed by the Thulamela Local Municipality in the office of the mayor's special programme, said that being disabled did mean one could not reach for the sky. "We have to give support to people with disabilities, because they didn't choose to be the way they are. When giving support to disabled people, we also encourage them to take education seriously and forget about their disabilities and poor backgrounds," Manwadu said.
Thulamela Mayor Avhashoni Tshifhango accompanied him on Thursday, 25 March, on the visit to Fhulufhelo Special School. Tshifhango also used the opportunity to donate shoes to disabled learners of the school.
He urged parents with disabled children to place them in special schools such as Fhulufhelo. He said that some of these children were more talented than children born without disabilities. He used Manwadu as an example of someone who lives with a disability, but who became an ambassador for the Special Olympics in the region.
"We have to motivate and encourage disabled children not to be discouraged by their status. They are important in our societies, despite their disability. As a local municipality, we have formed a partnership with Manwadu to support his vision," said Tshifhango.