In collaboration with Jakaya Mrisho Kikwette Sports Park and COPE (Cooperazione Paesi Emergenti) we plan to hold a ‘Walk in My Shoes Inclusive Sports Day” at the JMKP showcasing the possibilities and challenges for an inclusive society.
Through a “Walk in my Shoes” event will highlight daily challenges facing persons with disabilities and promote a discussion on the best ways to address these challenges. Different groups of influential members of our society will patircipate in different sports in the shoes of persons with disabilities. Members of parliament, the diplomatic corps, business leaders, athletes and other officials will have an opportunity to showcase their sports skills in the shoes of a person with disabilities.
The walk in my Shoes event shall be preceded by inclusive sports to be played by primary school children with and without disabilities. Inclusive sports will showcase inclusive education outside the classroom. This day will provide an opportunity for primary school children to enjoy different sports events, learn skills together and discover each other’s similarities rather than differences.
Participants of this event will get an opportunity to learn the life history of Dr Reginald Mengi, his role as an advocate for the welfare of persons with disabilites and get to understand the importance of a giving culture. We believe in inspiring the young generation and leaving a lasting impact in their beliefs for building an inclusive future society.
Become part of this life changing experience, where different abled persons get to enjoy a day of sports. The society will also get to see and appreciate challenges facing persons with disabilities through a ‘walk in my shoes’ sports. The event will be held at the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwette Sports Park, which is an inclusive sports park.
The Foundation is planning to hold the first ever, inclusive charity walking marathon (WALKATHON). This ten-kilometer event is intended to provide three segments for an inclusive and fun event. They will include a two, five and ten kilometer walkathon. These segments are intended to be inclusive and provide an opportunity for persons with and without disabilities to participate. Target groups are persons with disabilities, jogging clubs and the general community.
The charity walkathon would bring together the community to raise funds for a common cause in an interactive manner while it also promotes a healthy lifestyle. The funds raised would facilitate charity work, which the foundation carries out. Specifically, the funds will be used to support projects for the welfare of the Persons with Disabilities in the society.
The funds raised would be targeting two key projects primarily the donation of a computer lab to Yombo Vocational Training Centre for Children with Disabilities and Donation of Assistive Devices.
The Dr. Reginald Mengi PWD Foundation invites the general public to participate as sponsors or walk with us to raise awareness and promote the giving month of May in honour of Dr. Reginald Mengi.
a. YOMBO VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE FOR PWD
Yombo vocational training center for persons with disabilities is a government training facility under the administration of the Prime Ministers Office. This facillity currently located in Yombo Dovya, Temeke Municipality specializes in vocational training for primary school leavers.
Imparting skills and knowledge is a critical component in the economic empowerment for persons with disability. Statistics indicate that children with disabilities are more likely not to attend or finish education.
This facility is amongst the few vocational training centres for PWD. The Foundation has earmarked this centre as an important player in educating and preparing PWD to become independent members in their communities promoting an envisaged inclusive society.
Part of the proceeds of the Charity Walkathon will be used to donate computers and repair a classroom to be used as a computer lab. This will provide both students and their teacher’s access to better learning environment.
b. DONATION OF ASSISTIVE DEVICES
Assistive devices for persons with disabilities are essential tools that assist them in performing their day to day activities independently and with minimal challenges. Independence allows them to become active members in the society, contributing towards their wellbeing and that of their families and the community around them. It also allows family members or those who would otherwise become care-givers time to be independent and perform other duties. Non-dependence also minimizes chances of abuse by caregivers.
The foundation plans to donate assistive devices to those in need. The choice of devices would be based on value for money while also paying special attention to technological innovations. Such devices would include white cane, Prosthesis for lower limbs, Sun cream, hats and sunglasses to protect the skin of Albinos, book riser for school desks or magnifier devices to assist comfortable reading in the classrooms for visually challenged children, hearing devices to amplify the sound for the people with hearing challenges and axillary crutches, elbow crutches, canes, walkers and wheelchairs.
The foundation is pioneering the giving culture campaign to be celebrated during the month of May in honour of Dr. Reginald Mengi. The Campaign shall be known under the hashtag UBUNTU.
Ubuntu (Zulu pronunciation: [ùɓúntʼù]) is a term meaning "humanity." It is often translated as "I am because we are," or "humanity towards others," but is often used in a more philosophical sense to mean "the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all. We believe this one word describes Dr. Reginald Mengi comprehensively.
The general themes for this year are care and protection of our mother earth through a “National Tree Planting Campaign and save a life through a ‘Blood Donation Campaign’. In collaboration with MOAT and members of the media fraternity we shall promote the philanthropic acts of Dr. Reginald Mengi to motivate and inspire Tanzanians and those in the diaspora to give back to the community through the UBUNTU hashtag.
This campaign also promotes independent acts of humanity during the month of May. This would provide the community a bigger platform for institutions, companies, social groups and individuals to organize independent giving back activities.
a. TREE PLANTING CAMPAIGN
In the spirit of UBUNTU, we have identified protection of our mother earth as a humane activity. The Foundation is planning to mobilize all Tanzania’s to plant trees. The campaign known as save mother earth, plant a tree, will highlight the benefits of planting trees and protecting our environment. We shall also use this opportunity to inform the public on the effects of environmental degradation.
The campaign targets to plant 5,000 trees during the month of May. It is expected that this campaign will inspire Tanzanian’s to continue planting trees across the country throughout the year.
During the month of May, in collaborations with other SHIVYAWATA and other stakeholders we have scheduled to plant trees in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Kilimanjaro. Supporters or sponsors can participate either directly or by buying seedlings.
b. BLOOD DONATION CAMPAIGN
Giving a part of yourself to save another is the spirit of UBUNTU. In collaboration with The NBTS (National Blood Transfusion Service) the foundation is planning a blood donation campaign across the country.
This campaign is intended to motivate Tanzanians to donate blood as a symbol of love and respect to humankind. It is also a symbol of giving what you have for the other person and not a reflection of wealth as a basis for a giving heart.
We plan to hold two camps across Dar es Salaam and Dodoma as donation sites. These sites will promote the spirit of giving. We intend to use these sites to promote the life journey of Dr. Reginald Mengi and inspire the spirit of giving.
The final donation site will be at the charity walkathon. Participants will have an opportunity to donate blood in mass. This campaign targets to donate 300 units to the blood bank and many more units by Tanzanians across the country.