Bright smiles with Waja Ka Meno
"We would also like to spread the word of the trust's work to schools and dentists in Soweto"
A festive group of chorus singers, circus performers and volunteers lined the entrance to Mac’s Party Farm on August 30 to welcome 577 differently-abled children to the annual Waja Ka Meno Trust Dental Day.
Amidst the carnival setup, complete with jumping castles, popcorn, music and mascots, the stars of the day doled out spontaneous hugs, kisses and high-fives to their hosts, simply unable to contain their excitement over a day many had been looking forward to all year round.
The Dental Day was started twenty-four years ago by Southgate’s own Dr Shouket Waja and his friends, who wanted to educate disabled kids about proper dental care.
Dressed in tooth costumes and dancing on school stages, it was a sweet, low-tech affair with a lot of heart.
With the help of professional volunteers and sponsors like Spur, Colgate, Wright Millners and Southgate Mall – to name a few – the Waja Ka Meno Trust has grown into the largest charitable dental trust in South Africa.
They provide free dental education, screenings, dental work and even maxillofacial and dental reconstructive surgery for disabled, orphaned and destitute children.
For the children, however, the day is important for different reasons. Sure, there are amazing gifts, delicious treats and goodie bags galore (along with a healthy dose of dental-care messages), but more importantly, this day was their chance to show-off their talents to an adoring crowd.
On this day, they got to shine.
Dressed in all manner of creative costumes, performers from The Learning Vibe and the Jiswa School had the crowd on their feet and in stitches with some comical plays and thrilling dance numbers.
Don Mattera School’s breathtakingly energetic gumboot dancers would have been at home on any professional stage. Soweto’s own Adelaide Tambo School for the Physically Challenged provided two show-stoppers too.
Their first number, a sublime choral piece, showcased the singers’ award-winning talent and left quite a few attendees in tears.
The learners then literally rocked the house with their second number – a traditional dance act accompanied by thundering bass drums. As the dancers kicked their feet high above their heads, one young girl’s performance was especially moving.
Dancing on only one leg and using crutches to stabilise herself, this exceptional young woman was able to match every turn and kick with the same perfect energy and style as her dance mates.
During the proceedings, Southgate Mall – who also handled press awareness and sponsored medical services for the day – handed out gifts and over 1000 dental-themed colouring books to happy learners.
“As a Centre, we feel truly honoured to have played even a small part in bringing joy to these children today,” Retail Manager Rosa Viljoen says. “Being here touched us deeply and we would like to thank Dr Waja and the Waja Ka Meno Trust for allowing us to be involved.”
Assistant Marketing Manager, Itumeleng Boylane added that it is the vision of Southgate Mall to become involved with the trust on a permanent basis.
“We hope to help grow the trust and enable it to assist more children in need of quality dental care. We would also like to spread the word of the trust’s work to schools and dentists in Soweto,” Itumeleng says.
Dr Waja, a co-founder and public face of the Waja Ka Meno Trust, also expressed his delight. “Thank you, thank you, and thank you! That is what we wish to say to our sponsors and volunteers for helping to make the day special for all our children.
“It was wonderful and the kids loved every minute. We are deeply grateful to every person who shared their time and resources,” Dr Waja said.
To find out more about the Waja Ka Meno Trust or how you can help, visit www.wajadentalsurgeries.co.za
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