The Dr. Mengi Persons with Disabilities Foundation held an all-inclusive day on the 29th of May 2022 at the Jakaya M. Kikwete Youth Park in what we saw as an amalgamation of the perfect way to not only bring together disabled people but also as a great way to honor the memory of our founder Dr. Reginald Abraham Mengi.

The Dr. Mengi PWD Legacy Event was our attempt at trying to make sports more inclusive and to show that inclusive sports are just as entertaining to watch but also just as hard to play but we also treated it as a gathering place to provide healthcare & bring together all stakeholders with a keen vision on an inclusive future to sit and discuss how we can move forward in our growing country.

These celebrations included Inclusive sports such as Goal Ball, Netball by the deaf (who communicated via sign language), Football with whom we were graced by the presence of Albino FC, wheelchair basketball and amputee football (Tembo Warriors were the main representative and played a showcase game ahead of their trip to this year Amputee World Cup in Turkey)

These sports were played by both persons with disabilities and those without with some of our honorary guests joining in with the example of Her Excellence Pamela O’Donell, High Commissioner of Canada in Tanzania playing amputee football and wheelchair basketball, Mrs. Jacqueline Mengi Chairperson of DRMF played amputee football, Cecilia Assey Deputy CEO WILDAF played wheelchair basketball and Khalid Kumbuka of Global Giving played amputee football.

This special day was also earmarked with various health check-ups.

1. Over 200 PWD received free medical check-ups including prostate screening from Heameda Hospital. 2.Over 150 people received free eye testing with just over 100 receiving free prescription glasses from Lions Club Chapter 411.

After the festivities, we hosted 1,500 people who enjoyed lunch with us as a symbol of the signature luncheon event that Dr. Mengi used to host for over three decades. We used this time to discuss a plan going forward for Persons with Disabilities and how we can make it possible to bridge the gap to the local Government whilst also driving an awareness campaign against negative stigmas against Persons with Disabilities.

We thank our guest of Honour, Hon. Prof. Joyce Ndalichako Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities) who was represented by Mr. Yohana Madadi, Director of National Productivity in the Prime Minister’s Office, H.E. Dr. Donald Wright, Ambassador of USA in Tanzania; H.E. Pamella O’Donnell, High Commissioner of Canada to Tanzania, H.E. Maryvoone Poole Honorary Consulate of Seychelles to Tanzania, Dr. Magreth Matonya Director of Special and Inclusive Education, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

We would also like to extend an arm of thanks to our partners and who attended the event Hilda Nkabe Lukiza Foundation, Cecilia Assey WILDF, John Ulanga TRADEMARK East Africa, Frederick Msigallah of CCBRT (Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania), Dr. Hery Mwandolela of Heameda Hospital, Bizimana Ntuyabaliwe Deputy CEO PanAfrica Energy, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation (JMKF), Sense International, ADD International, African Underground Mining Services, Fern Marketing, Hill Water Tanzania, Jakaya M Kikwete Youth Park.