POLOKWANE – Much loved teacher at New Horizon Special School, Lizzie Vogel retired at the end of April after nearly three decades of service to the school.
Vogel was intensively involved in sport for learners with intellectual impairment at provincial, national and international level and has, among other, served as president of the Down Syndrome International Swimming Organisation, vice-president administration and finance of the Sports Union for People with Down Syndrome, as well as vice-president of the International Athletics Association for People with Down Syndrome.
She was also an executive member of the International Sports Federation for people with Intellectual Disabilities and Africa president of Sport for the Intellectually Impaired from 2007 until 2017.
On provincial level, Vogel was, among other, provincial chairperson of Athletes with Intellectual Impairment, from 1996 until 2010, chairperson for Limpopo Province Disable Sport Association from 1999 until 2001 and board member of Limpopo Academy for Sport from 2003 until 2021.
She has also managed, or was involved in numerous provincial, national as well as international sports events for the disabled and represented South Africa on international forums.
After studies at the Potchefstroom College of Education and some teaching in Kempton Park and Pretoria, she relocated to Pietersburg in 1992 when her husband was transferred and she started at New Horizon Special School. In 1994 she was needed at Ivypark Primary School to assist in the mathematics class for nine months, returning to New Horizon Special School in 1995.
She furthered her studies at Unisa to be able to assist learners with special needs to the fullest, and graduated in 2001. In 1998 she completed a course in sports administration at the University of Pretoria.
“Special education was never my choice to teach, but God had another plan for me. I always wanted to make a difference in peoples’ lives and that is the passion and the ability God equipped me with. I come from a family that has always cared for other people and had the ability to uplift people. I am the happiest person if I see learners and especially the sport people with intellectually impairment, improve. Athletes that could represent their families, schools, province and country at events is my reward. For me it is like a grade they pass, university degree they achieve, because that is what they will never be able to achieve,” Vogel explaines.
Vogel is also the manager of the Limpopo Province Sport Club for athletes with intellectual impairment and in this capacity, she takes care of athletes that are out of school and still active in sport.
She is still the chairperson of Polokwane Aftercare Centre in Dorp Street and intends to focus more on the centre and the out-of-school athletes now that she is retired.
“We also have active sport people at this centre and with great potential,” this energetic community leader believes.
