VALHALLA ARTS CK REG: 2005/161496/23 21 Waterloo Crescent Farningham Ridge Pinetown 3610 CELL: 083 348 8729 When TRIBUTES are truly deserved One of the cornerstones of the South African Constitution is its call to us to recognize, protect and celebrate our diversities and rights. Our Constitution further emphasises and enjoins all of us in safe-guarding that vulnerable groups and marginalized sectors of our population, including people with disabilities, also enjoy these freedoms and protections, are given space and opportunity to participate equally and succeed – and that their achievements are celebrated. People with disabilities, especially its women folk, have over the years played a vital role in the South African socio-economic and political agenda. There are scores of women with disabilities in our midst that are actively involved as leaders in socio-economic development initiatives and systems of governance. Women with disabilities have also helped in shaping the current landscapes in gender equity, leaving a legacy of icons and heroines that have added their own voices in the struggle for and ultimate realization of women’s emancipation in our maturing democracy. People with disabilities are a natural and integral part of our societies and should be accorded the opportunity to have their experiences, talents and capabilities recognized. Recognition is a basic human need which when met fulfils the quests of the soul. It empowers not only those that are being accorded its honour, but also those that still seek its glory for the empowerment of their own soul aspirations. It is against this background that Valhalla Arts (a company run by a person with a disability) launched the TRIBUTES initiative, a special ceremony that honours women with disabilities who have left a lasting legacy in various forms of social development and our other freedoms. TRIBUTES have been staged as an annual event over the past three years (2010 – 2012). Each year the public is asked to nominate women with disabilities that, based on the work they do and its impact on social development, are truly deserving of TRIBUTES. A judging panel, constituted of individuals from various disability organizations, sifts through these nominations to identify 12 ‘winning’ women in 12 specific nomination categories (visit tributessa.co.za). The Finalists are invited to KwaZulu-Natal for three days of fun, learning and honour (from the 29th to the 31st of August which is Women’s Month). Each is awarded a TRIBUTES Statuette at a Gala Dinner held on the final day and attended by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal together with representatives of local and national government, members of the private sector and civil society. During the three years that Valhalla Arts has staged TRIBUTES South Africa has seen a total of 36 women with disabilities identified from all over the country for the award. Some of the past Finalists include Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu (2010) the partially blind former Deputy Minister in the National Department of Public Works who is currently the Deputy Minister in the National Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities. Chaeli Mycroft (celebrated her 17th Birthday at TRIBUTES 2011) who was diagnosed as being cerebral palsied at 11 months and later, at the age of 6, diagnosed as also having a degenerative neuropathy which causes wasting of the muscles in her arms and legs. Today, this resilient achiever has beaten the odds to become one of the most recognizable humanitarians of ability and earning herself the Nobel Peace Prize (2012) for her work with children with disabilities. Sebenzile Matsebula (2012) the Executive Chairperson of Divuseni Trading & Investment (Pty) who evaluated the 1st African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (1999 – 2009) for the African Union – and has conducted various research studies to inform development of policies designed to mainstream disability and uphold human rights of people with disabilities. The TRIBUTES initiative also comes with a posthumous nomination category reserved for disability heroines who have passed on. Some that have been remembered include the late Professor Fatima Meer (2010) whose anti-apartheid activism and academic works were acknowledged both locally and internationally. She still led the fight for social justice even after being confined in a wheelchair because of poor health in her late elderly life. Ms Maria Rantho (2011), a nurse who became a wheelchair user after a car accident and later pioneered Disabled People South Africa (DPSA), an organization that was formed in the 1980’s to work towards the full participation and inclusion of people with disabilities in society. Ms Sandra Goosen (2012) the previous Director and Senior Placement Officer at the Association for People with Disabilities in the Free State whose responsibilities included the placement of people with disabilities in gainful employment and learnership opportunities. Their work promoted the visibility of women with disabilities in our society and also left a legacy that needs to be preserved, advanced and cherished. It with an understanding of the great limitations faced by the disability sector, particularly its women folk, that we ought to come together in celebration when they rise to demonstrate their resolve, selfless sacrifice and active leadership in matters that concern their own development. We ought to pay them TRIBUTES when they show capacity, courage, devotion and sense of personal responsibility as they determine the direction of their own destinies; opening, carving and accessing their own self-generated opportunities, and registering an indelible mark of contribution and excellence in achieving their set goals and those of others despite all odds. It is for us as a caring society to acknowledge and respect this mighty milestone; for it demonstrates to all of us the power and strength of a resilient soul – its sheer and amazing desire to break through any possible limitations – their ability to dream the impossible dream which they then turn it into a possible and tangible reality – their simple discipline to believe that prison bars are open windows where the undying flame of spirit can, does and will always shine through. Valhalla Arts invites you to nominate a role model woman with a disability that is doing life changing work in your community for TRIBUTES 2013. Your participation will stand you a chance to win a copy of “TRIBUTES: The Story” a book published by Valhalla Arts in 2012 to document the TRIBUTES initiative. Those that will win the copy are those whose nominated candidates will make it to the final list. Nominations close on Monday the 15th of July 2013. Yours truly MUSA E. ZULU [email protected] valhallaarts.co.za 11/06/2013 Musa E Zulu Creative Director Motivational speaker, Author and Artist
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 14:49:18 +0000
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