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City Parks threw its annual Christmas party for disabled children at the Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre in Soweto. It also marked International Day of Disabled Persons.
For the kids, the presence of Father Christmas was the highlight of the party
OVER 1 700 disabled kids and their caregivers were treated to good food and music to mark International Day of Disabled Persons.
Held on Monday, 17 November at the Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre in Soweto, it was the sixth annual Christmas Party for children with disabilities thrown by Johannesburg City Parks and Cell C, the cellphone company.
Luther Williamson, the City Parks managing director, called on more sponsors to come on board as they want to grow the event to accommodating more than 20 000 children.
International Day for Disabled Persons has been promoted by the United Nations since 1992. It is observed to raise awareness about disabled people's rights at both national and international levels.
Speaking at the party, the member of the mayoral committee for environment, Prema Naidoo, said, "This is a very important occasion for us as the City because we get to spend the day with and entertain children who are differently abled.
"More importantly, the event is used as a platform to urge city planners, the corporate sector and civil society to be considerate of the needs of the disabled and to assist in developing recreation nodes for children with challenges."
Television personalities, Zola, of Zola 7 fame; Andile Ncube, a former Live presenter, a television music show; Zizo Beda, 2006 Miss SA Teen; and Precious Kofi, the presenter of Keeping It Real With Precious, were among those who joined in the fun.
Upon seeing Ncube, Refilwe Mathipa, who was a guest at the party, screamed: "Oh my goodness I cannot believe that I am seeing Andile; I love this guy ... This is one of the best parties I have ever attended."
For the young ones, however, Father Christmas was the highlight of the day. To their delight, three Father Christmases came out to greet them. They did not have presents with them but promised to send gifts to every school that was present at the party.
The Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre is a school for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects communication between the person's brain and muscles, leading to impaired mobility and irregular posture. Prisca Tshabalala, whose son, Nkanyezi, died of the disorder, started the centre in his memory.
Earlier this year, it received a cash boost from City Parks and Standard Bank, one of South Africa's big four banks.
As part of City Parks' extreme park makeover strategy, a bare piece of land in the centre's playground was turned into a park for children with disabilities. The project was not limited to the park - the school's hall, stimulation room and toilets also received a makeover.
The playground is now furnished with a variety of wheelchair-friendly swings, a wheelchair maze, sprawling green lawn and paved walkways. It also boasts a greenhouse vegetable garden.
The centre is a first park of its kind for Joburg and was officially opened on Friday, 22 August.
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