Childhood is a time of climbing, swinging, sliding and jumping - and through this, exploring and learning about the world. Little imaginations create gigantic stories as they craft their scenes through play. A balancing beam becomes the gangplank of a pirate ship, the monkey bars are a rickety bridge suspended over a volcano of molten lava, and the merry-go-round becomes a swirling vortex leading to another world. Children are born with an innate curiosity that aids their growth as they play their way through their development. This hardwired need to discover and experience their environment is no different for a child with special needs. We can’t begin to grasp the frustration and despondence that a child with these same desires, but without the physical abilities to actualise them, must feel.
Gone are the days where disabled children were restricted to their home environments, excluded from society and all the joys that their able-bodied siblings and peers often take for granted. Increasing numbers of organisations that advocate for the rights of children with disabilities are coming into existence, clearly establishing the need for an inclusive society and for accessibility in all areas of everyday life. As Nelson Mandela said, “there can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” Today we see more and more differently-abled children participating in sporting and leisure activities, going on exhilarating adventures and embracing a life less ordinary.
A world where children with different abilities get to experience the freedom and true essence of childhood is like taking a black and white outline of a butterfly out of a drawing book and painting it with colour to a truer reflection of its brilliance. It is taking possibility and making it reality. Play is a powerful tool for forging friendships, encouraging compassion, and bridging gaps between disabled and able-bodied communities. Children with disabilities get to experience kindness and inclusion through other children making the effort to play with them, and able-bodied children benefit from being able to use their skills to help another child.
At Bugz Playpark we echo Nelson Mandela’s sentiments that “disabled children are equally entitled to an exciting and brilliant future.” As such, we were honoured to spend our 67 minutes for Mandela Day (and a couple hours extra) sharing in the joy with the amazing children and families from the Daniel and Friends Fund. Mandela Day not only celebrates Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy on 18th July, his birthday, but is a global movement inspired by his challenge for us to take up our power to change the world. The idea is to spend 67 minutes performing acts of service that improve the lives of others in honour of the 67 years Madiba spent striving to make the world a better place.
The Daniel and Friends Fund provides information, support and assistance to parents of children with special needs through education and training on various aspects of disability, empowering families to care for their children comfortably and without fear. The organisation also focuses on creating awareness, changing perceptions about disability, raising funds for adaptive equipment, and building support networks. To achieve these goals, they have several inspiring projects running, which include its “Different is Cool” school awareness campaign and the Daniel Kids Club which includes the siblings of special needs children who also often feel left out. They are also giving back by adopting the Haven of Hope Equine Centre as a project which shares a common goal of making a difference in the lives of children with special needs, and the Painting It Forward project that beautifies the walls of establishments that care for sick or disabled children.
Twenty-eight children along with thirty parents, caregivers and staff of Daniel and Friends took to the slides, swings, carousel, train and other fun equipment in our park for a stimulating and carefree time of play and bonding. For our team, it was rewarding to share our passion for play with these children.
“Thank you so much to Bugz Playpark for your generosity by giving more than your 67 minutes to Daniel and Friends. We appreciate it more than you know. Bugz is really passionate about children with disabilities, and it was obvious in the fantastic manner they handled and interacted with our children. Thank you to the most awesome team at Bugz! Absolutely cannot wait for the next one.” ~ Daniel and Friends Fund (via Facebook)
“Thank you for the best day ever. We had such such fun and felt so relaxed. Your team was so kind and caring. We are all beaming still.” ~ Parent (via Facebook)
