Disabled and Victorious

Project Title: Namakwa Disability Awareness Drive March 2018

Theme: Disabled and Victorious

Introduction:

Brunhild Strauss, became a paraplegic and wheelchair user following a vehicle accident in 1995, he has first-hand experience of the impact disability has in a person’s life, and how crucial support is in order to maximise your life’s potential. Living in Springbok and being involved as a community leader in Namakwa, he experience firsthand the dire plight of people living with disability, and has taken it as his life mission to bring awareness, public education and secure support to aid the special needs of these communities.

Strauss says there are many stigmas attached to disabled persons and therefore they always have to do extraordinary things to bring attention to their plight. They are one of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups, especially in rural Namaqua area of the Northern Cape with many small farms and towns. The vast distances between small towns and farms from main towns, aggravates the isolation and lack of support. These communities are faced with the realities of co-existence in a society that continuously look down on their physical, psychological, intellectual and mental capabilities and capacities.

This project is supported by the National Council of and for persons with disabilities and Regional Community Radio station, Radio Nfm 98.1. The most valuable ‘item’ the project will take to the communities, is information through public education. Few persons with disabilities are aware of their rights and support that is available. Even fewer people from society in general know how to relate to persons with disabilities, how to respectfully engage with them as citizens who have equal value to add to communities and the economy.

Project Description:

The Namakwa disability Awareness Drive is the initiative of Brunhild Straus in partnership with the National Council of and for persons with disabilities and regional community radio station, Radio NfM 98.1 will take the form of a Road show visiting about 30 small towns in Namakwa area surrounding Springbok.

The Awareness drive aims to:

1) Do public education and outreach to specifically the plight of people living with disability in these hard to reach and even more isolated communities in rural towns and surrounding farms

2) Deliver sponsored disposable nappies to people living with disability in hard to reach towns and farms

3) Through Radio Nfm introduce people living with disability to tell their own stories

 Live on-air crossings

 One month on-air promotion

 Regular on-air program

Strauss, a paraplegic himself, will undertake the tour on his handcycle and an adapted vehicle, accompanied by support team with broadcasting and photography equipment, raising awareness, do public education.

Project Objectives:

 Through Namaqua Awareness Disability Drive visit over 30 towns and farms in Namakwa district with our campaign theme Disabled but Victorious

 The Namaqua Awareness Disability Drive is about changing perceptions towards disabled people through public awareness in rural Namaqualand

 To give people living with disability a voice allowing them to tell their stories of survival and of hope

 To motivate disabled people to hang in and belief in their capabilities, endurance and strength.

 Collect and distribute disposable nappies from donors and funders

 do data base of those in need of assistive devices and providing such information to the department of health

Project Request:

 Financial assistance to fund (R50 000)

o Fuel expense

o Accommodation for team

o Broadcast & Production cost

o Photography cost

o Project Management cost

 Partnership to broaden scope and sustainability of project

 Any contribution however small is gladly accepted

Future Objectives:

o Develop Mobile App specifically to address challenges of people living with disabilities in rural and peri-urban areas. Ideally the App should:

- improve interactive communication

- provide a platform to support with urgent need

- provide platform for public to engage and contribute

- Assist with data base of people living with disability

- Provide platform to manage in real time any deliveries or projects

o Pilot cost of R60 000

__________________________

Brunhild Strauss

Northern Cape Community Media Liaison Development for persons with disabilities NCPD

(Station Manager, Radio Nfm 98.1)

(Activist for People living with Disability)