PARTICIPANTS PART 4: THE SOCIAL GIRL

The fourth participant is a girl with mild celebral palsy. What fascinates me most about this girl is that I have never seen her in a bad mood. As soon as you greet her, talk to her and look at her she smiles and laughs, She loves the attention. She loves being around people and to socialize. Sometimes she almost screams out of excitement of being in a social context. At the same time you can see a tendency of envy in her eyes when she is not sitting among the other in the group.  Or when she doesn´t get the same attention as someone else. Knowing her background her behavior is beyond understandable. Since 2005 she has not been been interacting with other people or children. She has only been lying on a bed in her house with no social stimulation. No wonder she is craving the company of other human beings. And also amazing that she is not more reserved and timid after such a long time of isolation.

In her case, the greatest stimulation and life changing factor that Play on Wheels so far has offered her is most probably the opportunity of being among people. Something that most of us take for granted. And something that is crucial for us as human beings. And by time, she has a huge potential to grow tremendously as a person and develop both mentally and physically. I am looking forward to see that progress.

PARTICIPANTS PART 3: AKA LADY GAGA

A singer and a dancer. That is how I would describe the next participant that I want to present to you.  Her nickname therefore came very naturally to us. We call her “Lady Gaga”. In the beginning her musical interest wasn´t very obvious though. It was hidden behind a surface of swear words, anger and ignorance. Hitting people was her normal way of expressing herself. But then something happened. Her true personality was revealed. And she showed us a happy, smiling and cheerful side of herself that love listening and making movements to music. I do believe that she will be on stage one day performing! From being a quite naughty girl she is has turned in to a charming little doll who I just want to hug as soon as I see her.

And she has become very talkactive! Mostly mumbling and not really making herself understood. But sometimes she manages to pronounce understandable words and short sentences.  With the progress I know she will make at Play on Wheels I wouldn´t be surprised if she will be able to tell the team a story soon. Or sing a song!

PARTICIPANTS PART 2: THE BUSY CLOCK WATCHER

The second participant I will introduce to you in my serial story about the Play on Wheels participants is a young lady with Down Syndrome. It is a girl with a strong personality! The most apparent characteristics so far are her stubbornness and determination. She is girl who knows what she wants and what she doesn´t want. And there is no one who is able to convince her to do something against her will. Everything is on her condition, she wants to be the one in control. Which is great! It means that it is difficult to take advantage of her, which is unfortunately quite common among people with Down Syndrome. It also means that it is quite difficult to introduce new ideas or activities to her. Unfortunately I believe the reason behind this behavior is based on a severe under stimulation during a long period of time. As a result she lacks the self-esteem necessary to try new activities and get to know new people. Being a center figure and receiving a lot of attention is probably not what she is used to either, which is expressed as shyness. With the encouragement and empowerment provided by Play on Wheels I know for sure that I will see a more outgoing and open minded person next time I am in South Africa. I have already noticed some changes from her first day at the center and last week I even made her play tennis with me. A huge progress from her side. And guess what, she really enjoyed it! :-)

Although she might not be interested in some of the activities that we try to motivate her to engage in, she is very fond of speaking on her cell phone! It doesn´t matter that it is pretended. She is very often busy talking on the phone and keeps the phone close to her at all times. She doesn´t want to miss any important calls.

She is also very particular about the time. She knows exactly when she is supposed to be fetched in the mornings to come to the center. And she is quick to tell the staff when the day is over. By pointing at the non existing watch at her wrist she reminds every one about the time. She is the clock watcher of Play on Wheels. And she is very disappointed when the driver is running late. It is not very “African” to care about being on time, but you should also remember that she is a very special young lady - in a positive sense.  

DHL DAY

On Friday Project Playground held a special event for DHL!

DHL is one of the major partners of Project Playground. For them to get a better understanding of what they are supporting they were invited to Langa to meet the amazing kids and staff members and to experience the hard work, the various activities offered and the wonderful atmosphere  at the center.  With fantastic showcases from the dance and vocal groups, debate team, BMX extreme biking class and photography class they were blown away! Although I have seen these kids practice and perform before I am always surprised about how brilliant they are. I get goose bumps all over my body when watching them. I do believe DHL is a very proud sponsor of Project Playground. And they should be.

The Play on Wheels participants were of course also invited to the event. And they seemed to love it! Especially the dance and the vocal part of the program. They were singing and dancing in their own way. And laughing a lot! I become completely warm at heart to see that they are enjoying themselves. They need it more than anyone else.

It was also a day when the kids involved in Project Playground for the first time met with the Play on Wheels participants. To integrate these two divisions is part of Project Playground´s vision. Today the first step was taken towards an accomplishment of that goal.  

A DAY OF UNITY

Today has been a great day and a public holiday - South Africa was celebrating human rights day. At Project Playground/Play on Wheels we acknowledged the day with a workshop which was focused on UNITY. Although Play on Wheels is a division of Project Playground and hence a part of the organization, there has until now been a “us and them”-feeling between the two groups. The objective of today´s gathering was to create a feeling of togetherness and make everyone understand that we are ONE team – ONE unit. The organization would not be the same if one of the staff members was missing – each and every one of them is extremely important in order for the operation to survive. Not to forget that every one of them is also a unique person – with his or her own strengths and weaknesses. But in a group one person´s weakness is uplifted by another person´s strengths resulting in a strong and harmonized team. All for one, one for all. From today I do believe that the fundamental strength of Project Playground will be based on a feeling of unity.

 The day ended with a soccer game – Santos versus Golden Arrow. Without actually taking notice of it before the game I suddenly realized at some point during the match that today´s theme of a unity coincidentally – or somehow maybe consciously – was brought all the way to the stand. We were a group, represented by both Project Playground and Play on Wheels AND one of the participants from Play on Wheels. And we were having an amazing time- together, as a smaller unity of Project Playground. The feeling of “us and them” was completely vanished. Obviously the workshop earlier today made a great impact on our perceptions of each other. But I would also give some credit of this wonderful communion to the soccer. I am not a soccer fan, but I have to admit that it is a sport that creates a genuine sense of togetherness. In addition to manage to join Project Playground and Play on Wheels in a very organic way, our group had all of a sudden grown to include the people sitting next to us. They were children from another race, with another color, speaking another language. But just like in the perfect unity our differences implied fantastic assets rather than obstacles. Together we had more fun than we would have had without each other. But I would probably never had met this kids if it wasn´t for the soccer.

To sum up this day, I have more than any time before understood the power of unity. Many thanks to Project Playground/Play on Wheels and to Santos/Golden Arrow for this enlightenment!

PARTICIPANTS - PART 1: THE STANDUP COMEDIAN

In the coming blog posts I will be introducing you to our lovely participants a little further. They are all amazing characters and I would therefore like you to briefly “get to know” the person behind the faces you see on the pictures.

The first one out to be presented is an extremely charming and funny gentleman with Down Syndrome. As the gentleman he is, he always wears a tie. Every day. He would never forget to put it on. To me, it says a lot about how unique he is.

He lightens up our days. He is usually in a very good mood, smiling and laughing. His smile itself makes you smile. His laughter make you laugh. Whatever he does – from eating a banana to playing tennis or wearing his sunglasses- is pure entertainment. His gestures and mimics are unbeatable. He is our own standup comedian. Without even knowing it. And without saying a word. Because due to his condition he has hardly any speech.

Friendly and generous are two of his other positive qualities. When you look into his eyes - the mirror of the soul - you see a person who would never harm an ant. And as soon as he has something, he shares it with others.

Physical exercise is not his strongest side though. There is not much that can make him leave the chair he is sitting on. And in a running race I do believe even a tortoise would beat him. Seeing him play tennis the other day therefore made me very proud of him.

All in all, he is one of the most ADORABLE persons I have ever met.  I love him.

VARIOUS STIMULATIONS

Today we had the privileged of welcoming a special Swedish guest to the center. His name is Per Fransson and he is a Professor in Psychology at Umeå University. Being in Cape Town for holidays he was kind enough to take time and come to the center to facilitate a workshop for us. For the very first time all staff members of Project Playground, which since one month and four days ago also includes Play on Wheels, were gathered in the same room at the same time. It is quite a crowd!

It was a very interesting session about stress factors for children and ”Maskrosbarn” – children who survive and cope well as adults despite the presence of many stressing elements during their childhood.  Topics that is highly associated and applicable on the children that are enrolled in Project Playground and Play on Wheels. No wonder the staff became incredibly engaged and enthusiastic. The discussions and comments never wanted to end. In their role as staff members of Project Playground I believe that the central take- home message from today´s workshop is to understand  – and always remember - that they are one of the most important supportive persons  - and perhaps THE most important supporter – in the children´s lives. By being as inspirational, caring, attentive and empowering as they already are, they will all have a great positive impact on the future of the kids who participate in Project Playground/Play on Wheels. As I have said before, this crew consists of a group of heroes.

Later today the Play on Wheel staff and two of the Play on Wheels participants went to a talent show for physically disabled people. It was surprisingly entertaining and the room was filled with a wonderful vibe. The contestants danced, sang and read poems. And after a while we all danced and sang to the music!  I think our participants enjoyed it as much as the staff did. The working week couldn´t have ended any better. I hope the music and dancing inspired our participants to conitune dancing also during the weekend!

TWO GREAT TEAMS MEET

On Friday the Project Playground/Play on Wheels team based in Sweden arrived in Cape Town. For the majority of the PoW staff (including me!) it was the first time to meet with them and everyone was very excited! As always when the PoW team is gathered an amazingly friendly and positive spirit is spread throughout the premises and this day was not an exception. In addition to the lovely vibe that greeted the Swedish team, the staff had also  prepared a delicious breakfast to make our special visitors feel especially welcomed. There is no doubt the Swedish team got a wonderful first personal impression on Play on Wheels. And there was no doubt how much the PoW staff enjoyed and appreciated to meet with their Swedish counterpart. It was the day when to great teams got together!

LANGA - SUN

The township where Project Playground/Play on Wheels operates is called Langa and is the oldest township in Cape Town. To give you an understanding of this area I am going to take you on a virtual township tour.

Firstly, like everything else in this country, the color association is an important part of any description, also of a township. Langa is a black township. Most of the people come from the Xhosa tribe, originating from Eastern Cape, a province east of Cape Town.  Consequently, the township was given a Xhosa name. In Xhosa Langa means  “Sun”.

The township is like a town itself, with a clinic, police station, small shops, schools, petrol station etc. With regards to the living standards there are both high – middle – and low class areas, the former two being called the “ Beverly Hills” areas J  – from a township point of view. However, the majority of the people live in underprivileged, deprived low class areas, in informal houses – consisting of shacks, containers and very basic, bad constructed one bedroom houses. Not being bigger than a few square meters these “houses” normally accommodate a whole family PLthe space for each person is basically none! In addition, there is no running water or toilets inside. Shared toilets are placed here and there, fresh water for washing and drinking is collected from a common water collecting centers.

Moreover, the unemployment is extremely high. Some try to make their living by selling drinks and snacks. Others are working as maids and domestic workers. For these people it´s a daily struggle to get food on the table. Other dreadful issues faced on a daily basis are the horrible, disgusting reality of domestic violence, crimes, drug abuse and rapes.

All of our participants in Play on Wheels live in this environment.

However, despite the problems people are experiencing you are usually met with smiling faces and a friendly attitude. Music is playing from the shacks and children enjoy themselves with self- made instruments. A joke is never far away.

Maybe that is why they choose to name their township “Sun”.

 

RECHARGED

Today I gained new energy. Thanks to four lovely ladies - the mothers to four of the participants.  It was the first parent meeting for Play on Wheels. And for the first time I realized that this program is not only life changing for the participants, it is of incredible value also for the mothers and guardians of the participants. 

First of all they are beyond happy and thankful for the progress that their beloved children have made. When telling us about the positive physical and behavioral development they have noticed since their children started attending Play on Wheels only three weeks ago their faces were lightened up. The majority of the time they spoke in Xhosa (their first language) though - a language which I don´t know many words of. But from their facial expression I could easily tell when they were describing the change they have experienced in their children. In that moment there was special glow in their eyes, smiles on their faces, laughter, giggling and an all over positive body language. It does not require you to know Xhosa to understand the signs of happiness.

Secondly, Play on Wheels has also provided the mothers with the opportunity to spend some time on their own. A luxury they have never had before. Because taking care of a person with a disability is a more than a full time job. By giving Play on Wheels the trust to care for their children three days a week gives them the chance to search for jobs, go to the hospital and leave the house without having to leave the child alone and locked inside. Basic activities that most of us take for granted that we can do - vital opportunities that can mean the world for these ladies. This is  a great example on how Play on Wheels not only have a tremendous impact on the participants, but also on the community.

 I am beginning to see the whole picture in reality. And that fills me with new strength.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Play on Wheels celebrates three weeks. Yet so young, yet much to learn. BUT the progress the participants have done is already obvious. The stretching of ankles, wrists and  other joints. Massaging of limbs. Walking training. Fine motor practicing by beading and the use of scissors. Exercises for strengthening their withered muscles. These are all activities which have started to get amazing and results in terms of the participants´ physical conditions and abilities.

There is also another side to the improvements – the visible signs of an improved mental health.   Stimulation of senses by music, singing, hugging a soft puppet and using colorful crayons for a drawing .  Social interaction with the care givers and the other of the Play on Wheels team as well as with the other participants. Spending time in a vibrant environment. It has all led to noticable differences in their appearances. There is a new sparkle in their eyes. The smiles and laughter more spontaneous and whole- heartedly. A more humble and cordial relation has evolved between the participants. An increased quality of  their life is a fact.

I also want to share a story with you, showing the importance of Play on Wheels for the participants;

One morning when we came to fetch one of the participants he was very tired, didn´t want to get dressed and showed no interest in coming to the centre. He was told that while we fetched the other participants he could think about whether he wanted to come along or not. When driving pass his house on the way back to the centre he came running after the car with his trousers, shirt and tie in his hand, indicating that he was very eager to come to the centre. I can tell you, I have NEVER seen him running before, he is usually moving in a slow and very relaxed pace. He had realized what he was about to miss. Play on Wheels.