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As my work at LOFOB continues I bear witness to the reality that sport, recreation and leisure time activities really can make a difference in lives of blind and visually impaired persons. When people ask me how I got to do what I do, it is quiet a simple answer that I give them.. ”I was born into this organisation” and this is really not work for me but I am just following my calling.
I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Stellenbosch, specialising in sport for the disabled in my final year. After that I continued to do my honours year in sport science specialising in biokinetics and then worked for one of the major sport institutes in the country for a number of years. Now it was not my intention to work with blind and visually impaired sportsmen and women, but it is ironic that this is where I now find myself.
Those of you who know me or have met me prior to me getting involved with LOFOB’s sport and recreation programme I am sure would not have pictured me in this environment. I think I have been fortunate to learn from one of my greatest teachers, that there is nothing greater than being able to serve a fellow human being not seeking any other reward than knowing you have done good.
I am an African and forever will be and so my heart lies not only in South Africa but also throughout Africa where there is an even greater need for the development of blind sports administrators and sportsmen and women.
My work at LOFOB allows me the opportunity to give life to its mission and that is to enable all blind and visually impaired persons to reach their optimal potential. I am fortunate that I am able to do this through using the medium of sport and recreational activities.
If you are interested in assisting me with making a difference in Africa and the unique world of blind sport I would be interested to hear from you. I estimate our local outreach programme over the next four years to cost us on average R352,821 per year while our African outreach programme is estimated at an average of R92,320 per year if we want to achieve all that we have planned.
Two of our immediate projects that I require assistance with are the sponsorship of a local workshop for Futsal (5 A-side soccer) in January 2008 and an outreach workshop in Ghana.
This Futsal workshop will cost us approximately R70 000 and will have an international coach from Spain present a workshop to local coaches. This will be the first of its kind in South Africa.
In early February I have been invited by the Ghana Association of the Blind to present a workshop on goal ball and cricket. This is building on the relationship we established with our South-South exchange programme. The full report is found on the African Outreach page. The cost of this workshop is estimated at R20000, which will include getting me there (if you have spare voyager miles to donate that will definitely reduce the costs significantly), and cover all basic costs while I am in Accra. The workshop will ensure that I reach 30 players and 10 coaches in Ghana educating them about the games, training techniques and the development of the administration of the games.
The first phase of our redevelopment of our recreational site in Strandfontein has got under way as we met with the site developers. They will soon give us an idea of whether what we intend to do is a possibility. The site is to be redeveloped into a Sport and Resource Centre that will primarily serve to develop and train blind and visually impaired sportsmen, women and administrators across Africa. This is a rather ambitious project but I have been told by my good friend Dr Aubrey Webson, that it all needs to start with a vision. Mine is very clear, there is a need for such a development and I will be dedicating myself to achieving this. The cost of the full project will only be available to us once the project developers get back to us, but conservatively it is estimated in the region of R7.5 million. Check out the accommodation page to get an idea of what we intend to house on the site.
Well as you can see I intend to make a difference at home as well as into Africa and would like to invite you to share in this opportunity to truly change what it means to be blind. If you are able to assist me through sponsorships or donations to these projects or other aspects of our programme please mail me.
So dear friend thank you for taking the time to visit our website (please direct your friends here) to see how we are making a difference in the world of the blind and visually impaired and I would like to encourage you to do the same wherever you are.
If you would like to continue to be kept up to date with our wellness programme progress bookmark this page or allow me to send you an update, mail info@lofob.org.za with the subject heading: wellness update, and I will get you onto my wellness mailing list.
Regards,
Armand Bam
Work is love made visible.
And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy. Kahlil Gibran
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