CEO activism in mental health
On March 2, residents of Little Eden Society were spoilt with attention from visitors who played and took photos with them.
CEOs get a different perspective on persons with disabilities as they spend a day manoeuvring a wheelchair.
On March 2, residents of Little Eden Society were spoilt with attention from visitors who played and took photos with them.
Different organisations braved the rainy morning to support the third annual CEO Wheelchair Campaign launch.
Among some of the visitors present were the SA Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) team, Wheelchair Campaign ambassador Sandra Khumalo and other organisations.
Sandra, who is also an Edenvale resident, uses a wheelchair and is a role model for other wheelchair users.
As March is National Intellectual Disability Month, the society challenged CEOs to spread awareness about mobility challenges faced daily by people who have a physical disability and those with profound intellectual disability.
Leon de Beer, deputy director of SAFMH, said they recognise Little Eden as one of the organisations which do a lot of great work in the field of mental disabilities.
The director was in his wheelchair and said he never experienced anything like it in his 20 years of working in the field of disability.
“The experience gave me a different perspective on the reality of persons in wheelchairs.
“I am a tall guy, so I found it very intimidating to look up at people from a wheelchair as I am used to looking people in the eye. It was humbling.”
SAFMH’s theme this March is I Am Able, Not a Label.
They aim to teach people to treat persons with intellectual disability with respect and not use derogatory names.
“If persons with disabilities are treated with love and respect, they can be functioning members of the community,” said Leon.
The wheelchair campaign aims to raise much-needed funds to help cover the cost of caring for 300 children and adults with intellectual disability at Little Eden Society.
The society’s CEO, Xelda Rohrbeck, took to her wheelchair during the launch as well.
Xelda participated in the wheelchair challenge for the second-year.
Her aim is to individually raise R30 000 towards the campaign.
The CEO said development officer Xai Miller was the brains behind the CEO Wheelchair Campaign.
“We would like more influencers to join and support the campaign for more awareness.
“I would also like to thank the community for supporting us,” said Xai.
Communications officer of the society Nichollette Muthige said some of the influential companies which have supported the campaign since its inception in 2018 include Discovery Limited, Multotec, Mix Telematics, Mandate Molefe, Boake Inc, Flender, Munsoft, and others.
“The impact of the campaign is valuable and has earned attention from other socially conscious companies, who subsequently took a decision to make their mark by joining the campaign for the first time this year.
“Some of these companies include OUTsurance, EOH, Sanlam Foundation, Kaya FM, Flender, Driv, SBM Energy, Fundi Capital, Oberon Pharma, Mei Construction services and S Guiricich Holdings, whose CEOs will each spend one workday in a wheelchair in March,” said Nichollette
“We hope the community will continue to support the campaign which caters for one of the most marginalised members of the community,” said Xelda.
To join other South African brands and advocate for the third annual Little Eden CEO Wheelchair Champaign visit www.littleeden.org.za
Pixzar
