ZWELENTEMBA COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

Please read about our annual meeting held on the 18th of August 2008 to find out more.

ZWELETEMBA - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY, 15 AUGUST 2008 AT LEWENSRUIMTE FOR THE DEAF – COMMITTEE ROOM

1. Opening and welcome
   Mr van den Bergh welcomed everybody to Lewensruimte for the Deaf, after which he opened the meeting with Scripture reading and a prayer. Apologies made for the short notice in the change of venue.
   
   
2. Introduction of committee members
   Mr van den Bergh asked Mrs Elizabeth Ramokhele, Auxiliary Worker to introduce the committee members. She introduced the members from De la Bat School, Lewensruimte for the Deaf, APD (Association for the Physically Disabled), ASD (Association for the Sensory Disabled), Vukahambe Care Centre and Institute for the Blind.
   
   She also especially welcomed our guest speaker Mr André Opperman to the meeting. She discussed the work she does in and for the community. She identifies the Deaf as well as Blind children when she visits the different clinics. She has also been able to identify children with speech defects in the process. She then immediately refers them to a doctor or a clinic for futher observation.
   
   Mrs Jordaan, Social Worker, says Lewensruimte for the Deaf is the only place in South Africa that houses multiple disabled persons. Mrs Ramokhele is thanked for the enormous task she does in the community.
   
3. 3. Annual & Financial Report
   Mr van den Bergh discussed the annual report by means of a PowerPoint presentation and asked Mrs Ramokhele to explain:
   
   • The Zweletemba representative committee comprises of 18 persons.
   • They have six objectives to ensure the ongoing aim to promote this    project.
   • Mrs Elizabeth Ramokhele and Mrs Hermie Jordaan’s have an enormous    task which covers a large area of 11 000km², with 24 communities and    a population of 630 000. 1553 people were contacted and attended to    during the past year.
   • A total of 154 hearing tests were done.
   • Six meetings were held to discuss projects.
   • Community work done by me Elizabeth Ramokhele.
   • De Stichting Vrienden of Effatha in the Netherlands were thanked for    their financial support in this project.
   
   
4. Mr van den Bergh discussed the Financial Income Statement. He says that a shortfall of R13 908 has occurred during this financial year.
   
   
5. 4. Guest speaker : Mr André Opperman
   Mr van den Bergh welcomed and introduced the guest speaker, Mr Opperman, an Optometrist of Worcester. Mr Opperman says he wants to share a thought: “Each and everyone of us are handicapped” being it spectacles, finances, hearing loss or physically. He also says he does not like the word “handicapped” – it should be physically disabled. You must unfortunately play the cards that you are dealt with. He gave a short background of himself, he grew up on a farm, done lots of horse riding, was a junior springbok in angling. He was a keen hiker, regularly did mountain climbing, parachuting, sailing, kloofing and rubber ducking. These were some of his favourite pass times. He has toured all of South Africa.
   
   Ten years ago he was on his way back from Hermanus on a motorbike, a vehicle from the opposite direction caused him to go off the road, he crashed and subsequently was paralysed from the breast down, from where he has no sensation. He decided that this was a physical condition and that he must go on and make the best of it. His perseverance shows what the human being is capable of. A person can adapt to things that happens to him. It is now 10 years after the accident – he has a full active life. He has been married for 9 yrs and has a son of 7yrs. He is the Chairman of ASD and is actively involved. He is also involved with the 4X4 Club and the Cape Nature Conservation and does patrols with them.
   
   He says, hapiness is a decision, you’ve got to decide to be happy. “What ever you do, with a bit of motivation, you can always do better”. You are never at the limits of your abilities.
   
   He built himself a hoist to fit the front of his car, he hoists himself from the car and goes swimming, he also uses this hoist in his own back yard and swims in his swimingpool.
   
   One thing that’s very important, whenever you hit a stonewall, just look around and without a doubt you will see somebody that is worse off, financially or physically. The best motivation is to feel good about something. If you feel you can add something to the community you always feel good. “The pleasure of gifts is not in the receiving of the gift but in the giving”.
   
   His advice: “Whenever you feel life has turned its back on you, and you feel frustrated, look around and you are sure to see somebody else that is worse off and you’ll be motivated to go on”.
   
   “Ride on the back of life or else you’ll soon have to carry life on your shoulders” Ry op die rug van jou lewe anders dra jy hom binnekort op jou skouers.
   
   
6. Mr Roelofse thanked Mr Opperman for his speech. He said,” We value you, its incredible in what you are doing. We honour you for not holding back and sharing with the meeting, another level of being in this world. “
   Life might not be the party that we are hoping for but while we are here lets dance.
   
   
7. 5. Election of representatives
   Mr van den Bergh apologised, but said that, according to the constitution new representatives will only be chosen every second year, thus the representatives stays the same:
   • De la Bat - the same
   • Family members for Zweletemba: Mrs Makuto, Mrs Jane Mrashuli, Mrs    Dotwana – the same
   • For the community: Mrs Rosemary Ngcwecwe – the same
   
   
8. Conclusion and light lunch
   Mr van den Bergh thanked everyone for attending the meeting and invited them to enjoy the light lunch that was prepared. He also thanked Miss Krause for the preparation of the lunch.