E280K EQUIPMENT FROM EU, UNICEF

MBABANE – Yesterday, at the offices of Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thuli Dladla, there was a handover of sports equipment to the Eswatini National Association for the Deaf (SNAD) worth E280 069. 74.

This was through a generous donation brought by a project funded by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). Part of the donated sports equipment included 16 size five soccer balls, which are durable for all surfaces, priced at E11 166. 72. Speaking for SNAD, the Executive Director, Makhosini Peter Makhubu, expressed gratitude for the incentives that will go a long way. It was noted that this was the first time SNAD received such support, which was the result of Makhubu’s continuous efforts to source help, even though previous attempts with organisations were unsuccessful. Makhubu emphasised the importance of persons with a hearing impairment to actively participate in sports and urged for their involvement in other sporting codes as well, given the equipment provided for their benefit.

disability

“If you look at international sports, there are wheelchair sports; basically there is disability involvement, which is what we want to do. In the country, it is like sports are for the normal if I can put it like that, which is why we are asking the Minister of Sports to let that culture change,” Makhubu expressed. On behalf of the EU, Robert Adam commended SNAD for being proactive in approaching their offices last year in September. He expressed the EU’s happiness in being able to assist and highlighted the power of sport in promoting social inclusion, raising awareness and fostering cohesion, especially among children and young people. Robert emphasised that the handover of sports equipment was just the first step, and now the association needed to organise matches and tournaments among persons with a hearing impairment teams and others to facilitate inclusion.

Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Muzi Bongani Nzima, expressed gratitude to the EU and UNICEF for the consignment and thanked the DPM’s office for coordinating the vital partnership. Nzima stated that as a ministry, not enough was being done to accelerate inclusivity and ensure that people with disabilities could freely and easily take part in any form of sport across the country. Meanwhile, DPM Dladla, expressed her warmest appreciation to SNAD, particularly, for his efforts in finding the support that the EU and UNICEF have provided. “We remain committed to disability inclusion across all sectors. We believe that disability inclusion is vital for upholding human rights, which is very close to the EU and of course to the kingdom; our constitution subscribes to that as well,” Dladla stated.

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