4th Annual Sports and Recreation Event

Ayabonga Bonga blowing bubbles

24 September 2014, Stellenbosch Sports Science Department. On a public holiday you might be tempted to think that the Sports Science department might be a quiet place due to the fact that the lecturers and students are taking a break.  Well, that was definitely not the case on Heritage Day, 24^th September 2014 when Bridging Abilities, along with their partners, Fanie van der Merwe from Inspire2Become, Adapt2Move and the Sports Science dept, hosted a sports and recreation day for children with disabilities.

The quiet halls of the department soon came alive and erupted into a hive of excitement as children were bussed in by various schools, such as Astra School, Athlone School for the blind, Bizweni Centre, Tembaletu School, Paarl School, and Vista Nova School.  About 117 children, who had disabilities such as amputations, Cerebral Palsy, congenital abnormalities, Spina Bifida, visual impairments amongst others, were divided into four groups and had 40 minute sessions at each of the four stations. Great enthusiasm and joy could be found at each activity as you roamed the venue. Along the sidelines you found proud parents and teachers hold cameras and other electronic devices each serving one purpose: capturing the laughter, movement and enjoyment of the kids.

 

A few action shots taken by Jaiden Kai Photography

 After the fun morning, everyone gathered together to enjoy a wonderful braai prepared by Braaiworld in the spirit of National Braai day.  Bridging would like to thank all our partners and volunteers for making our biggest event yet possible, and Tsitsikamma Crystal for sponsoring 144 bottles of water for the event. We would also like to express a special thanks to all the 3^rd year sport science students, Kinderkinetics students who ran the activities so smoothly and with so much energy, care and joy. 

Three of our sponsors/partners for the day

 Some of the comments received via email or on our Facebook page after the event were:

• We are so very grateful to the amazing team at Bridging Abilities for the incredible work they did with our children on Heritage day. Our children loved there time! Thank you! ~ Bizweni Centre for disabled children
• The day was such an enormous blessing for our children and even for our teachers who came away rejuvenated.  They loved the experience.  We will (tentatively) definitely be there for both events.  Philippa, Bizweni Centre for Disabled Children
• It was such a great opportunity and a privilege to capture these special memories for Bridging Abilities. Lots of fun to watch all these participants enjoy an awesome day of sport and recreation. Thank you Bridging Abilities for inviting J'Kai Photography to be part of this day. ~ Sharon Bridggs, Photographer
• Lia and her friends at another awesome sports day. Thank you Bridging Abilities
  

 — with Bridging Abilities and Aslam Khan. ~ Fiona Khan

• Thank you for the lovely day! ~ Colleen Francis, Tembalethu School

 

Some group shots, including a photo of Paralympian Fanie van der Merwe coaching

 a group.

Our next event will be a fundraising brunch on the 18^th October at Wild Clover Farm. Please support our brunch so that we can keep hosting these events and putting smiles on these special faces!  The tickets are R200 each with lovely eats, wonderful prizes such as an overnight stay in one of the 5 star McGrath Collection Hotels (with breakfast included), A Delaire Spa voucher and some great wines. Please email info@bridgingabilities.co.za to acquire your tickets.

Bridging Abilities is a registered NPO.

Sport Fun & Recreation Day 15^th March 2014

Groups playing the Icebreaker

On the 15^th March Bridging Abilities hosted a sport and recreation day at the Stellenbosch University’s Sport Science Department. This was the first time that we hosted an event so early in the year and it was a great success. After a few tense moments as we waited for the schools to arrive as they were late, the registration area became a hive of activity. As each child was registered he/she received his/her bottle of water before entering one of the halls that the sport science students had so wonderfully prepared. After a quick welcome from Candace Vermaak, the learners were split into 3 groups for the playing of the icebreaker.

A fun and noisy icebreaker was played which set the tone for the rest of the morning. Afterwards, the groups

The first hall

were taken to the different halls for the first sessions of the morning and throughout the morning the groups were rotated between the three different halls, every 40 minutes, until all the groups had had a chance to be at every station. The games were very well planned, set up, and executed by the sports science students. The smiles and laughter of the children and parents were infectious when you entered a particular hall, so much so that learners who expressed the desire to remain spectators soon became participants.

Due to the event being so early in the year, we decided to keep the event small. We had 31 children attend the day from schools such as Vista Nova, Tembaletu, Alta du Toit and Jan Kriel. The disabilities of the learners ranged from Cerebral Palsy to Spina Bifda and other congenital disabilities. We were very excited to have parents and siblings join us for the event. After the event each learner and volunteer received a lunch pack that consisted of a hamburger, a fruit and a juice.

Some happy faces

 We would like to thank our sponsors as well as the University of Stellenbosch’s Sport Science Department for being involved in this event. We also would like to thank the students of the Sports Science Department who participated in the event. They were very well prepared and implemented with a lot of enthusiasm and energy which resulted in the learners really enjoying themselves.

Our volunteers: the Sport Science Students

Our next Sports & Recreation event will be hosted on the 24^th of September 2014. Please email info@bridgingabilities.co.za for more information.  

Bridging Abilities’ 3^rd Annual Sports Day

On the 12^th October Bridging Abilities hosted its third Annual Sports Day for children with disabilities. This year the event was hosted at the Paul Roos School’s Sports Hall and even the weather could not put a dampener on the proceedings.

Once each child received their name tag and a bottle of water, Candace Vermaak, co-executive director of Bridging Abilities, welcomed all the guests. Then it was time for a game of Simon Says to get all the muscles warmed up and ready for action. After everyone was warmed up and rearing to go, the children, who were divided into three groups, were led into the hall to start at the various stations. Around 60-70 children from different schools such as Agape School, Athlone School for the Blind, Astra School, Bizweni Centre and Tembaletu School participated in the day.

A variety of target games, obstacle courses and many other activities were played causing great excitement and some wonderful smiling faces! The activities were once again run by the third year sports science students from Stellenbosch University.

Bridging Abilities would like to thank the Sports Science students for their enthusiasm and the way they presented the activities. We would also like to convey our gratitude to Checkers for their donation of fruit towards the children’s lunches as well as our other sponsors such as Cape Union Mart and NWE Engineers. Lastly, but not least, we would like to thank the teachers, sport coordinators, and volunteers who accompanied the children as well as our other volunteers.

Bridging Abilities will be hosting another event on the 3^rd of December to celebrate International Day of Disabled Persons.

Paralympic Awareness Day 2012

With the amazing performances of the London Paralympics still fresh in our minds, Bridging Abilities, Inspire2Become and the Stellenbosch University Sport Science Department hosted a Paralympic Awareness Day for children with disabilities on the 20^th October.

Schools arriving at the venue

On the morning of the event, the registration area was a hub of excitement as upon arrival, the learners each received a name tag, a bottle of water and were allocated a group in which they would be doing the activities.

After a short welcoming by Candace Vermaak, Co- Executive director of Bridging Abilities, Fanie van der Merwe, Co-Executive Director of Inspire2Become, gave a short speech in which he shared some of his experiences at the London 2012 Paralympics. After Fanie’s motivational speech about how he persevered after the initial disappointment of his 200m race, it was time for the games to begin. 

Sitting volleyball being played by the
children and Paralympic athletes

The children who had a variety of disabilities including spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, amputations, cerebral palsy, visual impairments and legally blind, went into three separate halls to enjoy their first Paralympic sports activity. In each hall there were a range of activities such as sitting volleyball, basketball, boccia and athletics. The layout of the department once again allowed the kids with mobility problems to move around independently.

Fanie, Duane, Roxy, Anrune and
Zanelle.

Adding to the excitement of the day was the fact that a handful of Paralympic athletes joined in the activities of the day. Anrune Liebenberg (2012 Paralympic women’s 200m T46 bronze medallist and 400m silver medallist), Roxy Burns( Para-cyclist), Zanele Situ (2000 and 2004 medalist in the F54/55 javelin catergory) and Fanie van der Merwe (2012 100m T37 gold medallist), spent the morning sharing their experiences as well as participating in the activities with the children. The activities were fabulously presented by the third year sport science students. The day ended off with a lovely group photo. As each child was leaving, he/she got an autographed photo of one of the Paralympic athletes who were present, as well as a packed lunch.

Bridging Abilites, Inspire2Become and Stellenbosch Sport Science Department would like to thank the third year students, as well as our sponsors and service providers who made this event possible. We hope to be hosting many more such events in the future.

Paralympic Awareness Day Group Photo

For more information either visit our website (www.bridgingabilities.co.za), our Facebook page or email us on info@bridgingabilities.co.za

Here is a copy of an interview that the Eikestad Nuus, a local newspaper, held with Candace Vermaak and Toni Mould after our successful Paralympic Awareness event which we held on the 20th of October 2012.

Event on the 20 October 2012!

Bridging Abilities, Inspire2Become, and Stellenbosch University's Sport Science Dept is hosting an event on the 20 Oct 2012. A few South African Paralympic athletes will be in attendance to speak to the students and encourage them! See below for details!

24th September 2011 Video

Here is the link the video from our Sports Day in Sept 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaPwnVFbg6k

For more info you can also use the following address: info@bridgingabilities.co.​za