The Chaeli Campaign

First Aid training! 👏 The staff at Chaeli Cottage Preschool, along with our programme facilitators, recently completed a two-day First Aid training course. This annual training is vital to ensuring a safe and supportive environment for the children. Here’s to starting 2025 with knowledge!

Last Thursday marked the final day for our Grade R preschoolers at Chaeli Cottage Preschool! 🎓✨ We are so proud of each and every one of them and can’t wait to see all the amazing things they’ll achieve in their next chapter. 🌟 Wishing them lots of fun and success on this exciting journey ahead! 💛

🌟 Celebrating Disability Rights Awareness Month with Artscape Theatre 🌟 The past two days, IAC proudly participated in the Unmute Arts Ability Festival at the Artscape Theatre, showcasing the powerful play U Nkanyezi nezihlangu. ✨ The Story: Nkanyezi is a little girl with a big dream, she wants to become Cape Town’s most famous model. But when she notices her legs are different, she begins to question if her dream is possible. This story reminds us to embrace what makes us unique and shows that ability comes in all forms, shapes, and sizes. ✨ Our Guests: We were delighted to host learners and teachers from local schools participating in our Ambassadors Program: -Dominican School for the Deaf from Wynberg -Zimasa from Langa -Noluthando School for the Deaf from Khayelitsha -Siyabulela Primary School from Langa -Tembaletu School from Gugulethu ✨ Why It Matters: The play reminds us that our differences do not define or limit us but instead make us who we are. Seeing young learners from our Ambassadors Program, connect with this message was very inspiring. What a beautiful closing of this Ambassadors year! 💖

#ThankfulTuesday December 3rd … Celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities 🎉 Thank you. Chaeli Mycroft and Zelda Mycroft, for sharing your story in Kearney’s “Voices of Strength” fireside chat with Francois Klomp to amplify disability inclusion, resilience, and advocacy. It was my privilege to introduce the session as we continue to build on our initial introduction—thank you for connecting us Yawa Hansen-Quao. The Chaeli Campaign epitomises the art of the possible and empowerment with programmes that champion a more ability-focused and inclusive world. Chaeli, you are indeed a bridge to people understanding your disability, how we should engage with disabled people, identity-first language (“preference is our preference”), and owning what you are allowed to do and allow others to do. Thank you. As Zelda said, “Inclusion can’t be learned, it has to be lived.” The biggest barrier to inclusion and engaging with disabled individuals is fear. Be patient, be curious, and willing to learn, unlearn, and relearn. Engage with others based on how you believe things should be, advocating for disabled people. Ask yourself, “How would you treat anybody else?” What an incredible hour to learn and listen to Chaeli and Zelda’s journey, and to engage in meaningful dialogue about the realities faced by disabled people and how we can all contribute to a more inclusive world. Here’s to inclusion accomplices who play an active part in enabling and empowering disability inclusion (it goes beyond allyship), to people who hold the space around us, and to all of us making space for ignorance. Thank you #KearneyEnableNetwork! #IDPwD2024 #IDPD24

🌍✨ Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities✨🌍 This day is a powerful reminder for all of us to reflect on how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go in creating a truly inclusive world! At The Chaeli Campaign, we strive every day to empower disabled people and to foster a society where everyone is valued and included. While we’ve seen incredible progress, the journey is not over yet. Let’s use this day to reaffirm our commitment to breaking down barriers and building a world where inclusion is reality for everyone. Together, we can make that happen!

🌟 Today we share Sandiswa & Thobela’s journey of Inclusion🌟 When their daughter Malu was four, her language development wasn’t progressing as expected. Unlike her older siblings, she struggled to communicate. This led to feelings of hopelessness, but as her parents learned more about Malu, they embraced her unique strengths and her special way of communicating. Malu found a place of belonging at Chaeli Cottage Preschool, where she can play, learn, and grow. Moments like her Father’s Day card for Thobela have been life-changing for the family. “Understand that your child is unique in ways you may not expect. Once you accept this, the journey becomes truly enjoyable.” 📖 Want to read more inspiring stories? Order Champions of Inclusion via this link: https://lnkd.in/ezgq5zVB

🌟 Creating a More Accessible Future for All 🌟 Since the start of Disability Rights Awareness Month, the Western Cape Department of Social Development has been shining a spotlight on services supporting persons with disabilities. But the work doesn't stop there! We’re thrilled to share that Mossel Bay is on its way to becoming the first fully accessible city in South Africa! 🚀 The Disability Accessibility Mossel Bay (DAM) initiative, spearheaded by Mossel Bay Municipality, is a game-changer for inclusive spaces. 🌍 On November 19th, Mossel Bay Executive Mayor Dirk Kotzé and Dr. Diane Hobbs of ETHAN presented the DAM initiative at the Ministers and Mayoral Forum. Through this collaboration with local businesses, community organizations, and government, Mossel Bay is setting the bar for universal accessibility with its groundbreaking 5-star rating system. 💡 This initiative encourages accessible features like braille text, ramps, accessible door handles, and much more, ensuring that everyone can enjoy public spaces with dignity and ease. 🌟 The Western Cape is taking bold steps towards a truly disability-friendly future, and we couldn't be more excited to witness the change!

🌟 Winner of the IAC Poetry Competition – Primary School Category 🌟 We are thrilled to announce that Kamogelo Maphanga from Entokozweni Primary School in Soshanguve is the winner of the IAC Poetry Competition! 🎉 Kamogelo’s powerful poem about equity and inclusion moved us all, reminding us of the beauty of diversity and the strength of unity. 📝✨ Swipe to read Kamogelo’s winning poem on page 1 and enjoy two other incredible entries by Reathegile Moueane and Ayanda Mpofu on pages 2 and 3. 🌈 Congratulations to all the young poets who participated—your voices inspire us to create a more inclusive world every day. 💖

💜 We’re excited to announce the winners of our IAC Colouring in Competition, held after the performance of our play UNkanyezi nezihlangu, written and performed in Xhosa. The play centres around the significance of these shoes, as depicted on the poster, and over 40 preschools took part in this creative competition. We’re thrilled to showcase the winning drawings! 💜

✨ In our book Champions of Inclusion, created to celebrate The Chaeli Campaign's 20th anniversary, we share inspiring stories of families on their journey toward inclusion. Hazel reflects on her life with Kayleen and Boeta, both wheelchair users, and the lessons they’ve taught her. Kayleen, diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a baby, and Boeta, who has spina bifida, have shaped Hazel’s understanding of patience, empathy, and unconditional love. “Boeta and Kayleen have taught me that every child deserves love and to know they belong,” Hazel shares. Hazel’s connection to The Chaeli Campaign began when Kayleen received her first motorized wheelchair on her 7th birthday. Since then, The Chaeli Campaign has become part of their family’s story—from wheelchair dancing workshops every Sunday to the invaluable support Hazel provides to other families as a community worker. Hazel’s journey reminds us of the transformative power of inclusion and the joy of creating spaces where every child’s abilities are celebrated. 📚 Want to read Hazel’s full story and more? Order our book via the link https://lnkd.in/ezgq5zVB ❤️