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MEDIA RELEASE BY LOFOB – 18 January 2008
SOCCER FOR THE BLIND
A first for South Africa will be happening at the League of Friends of the Blind [LOFOB] in Grassy Park, Cape Town. LOFOB will be hosting a FUTSAL (five-a-side Soccer) coaching workshop from 25 -27 January 2008. This workshop will be presented by a Spanish coach through the good offices of the International Sports for the Blind Federation(IBSA). Training sessions for the potential coaches which will include visually–impaired people will kick-off on Friday afternoon 25th January at the LOFOB Centre, in First Road, Grassy Park ending with a practical session on the parking area of the Ottery Hypermarket on Sunday 27 January 2008 from 08:00-14:00. The public is welcome to watch this practical session.
This is part of LOFOB’s initiative to encourage wellness in blind people. LOFOB has an active wellness programme, which includes sports such as cricket for the blind and goal ball. Every weekend LOFOB vehicles traverse the Cape Flats to bring people to sporting practices and events. LOFOB also operates a fitness gym for blind people and already we have seen progress in the condition of people. The programme seeks to encourage integration and therefore LOFOB engaged the City of Cape Town’s sports development section to incorporate blind people in its local community sports and recreation programmes. More information about LOFOB can be found on the website www.lofob.org.za
FUTSAL, or football for the blind will bring a new dimension to sports for blind people. LOFOB is pleased to be leading the process to enhance this sport and open new avenues for blind people. This event is only one of many to celebrate LOFOB’s 75th Anniversary in 2008.
Further information can be obtained from Armand, LOFOB’s wellness manager on 0834330937 or Philip M Bam , LOFOB’s Executive Director on 0836583885 or 0217053753
ISSUED by:
Philip M Bam
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MEDIA RELEASE - LOFOB AGM
Executive committee of LOFOB. Back row from L - R Mr E M James (Immediate Past President); Mr Philip Bam (Executive Director); Mr Leslie Martin (President); Mr Ike Arendse and Mr Richard Arends (Treasurer) Front Row L - R Rev FW Farmer; Mr V G Adonis; Mrs A Jacobs and Mr B Kleinsmith.
Violence is a major cause of blindness in adults asserted Philip Bam, Executive Director of The League of Friends of the Blind[LOFOB] at its AGM held on Thursday 27 July 2006. He said that out of the 200 adults referred to LOFOB, gunshots were indicated in at least 5% as the cause of blindness. He appealed to the community to develop conflict handling skills and to avoid the tendency to resort to violence. This call comes in the wake of the recent family killings by gun.
LOFOB's support service to children in mainstream schools was highlighted by a presentation by a parent of a child at one of our Cape Town schools. LOFOB offered awareness training to the entire class and is training the parent to read and write Braille. Another parent spoke about how her multi-disabled child improved her functioning through LOFOB's Early Childhood Development Programme. LOFOB's ECD service to blind toddlers will be enhanced this year in a partnership agreement with the Perkins School for the Blind in the USA. The support will include staff training and the provision of equipment.
LOFOB elected a new President, Mr Leslie Martin who is himself visually impaired. Mr Martin is a CCMA commissioner and has been blind since the age of 17. He hopes to bring his philosophies on disability to bear on the service provided by LOFOB.
DOORS OPENED FOR UNEMPLOYED MATRICULANTS
The League of Friends of the Blind (LOFOB) will be hosting a Certificate Ceremony on Friday, 30 June 2006 for eighteen students who have successfully completed an Eye Care Training programme offered by LOFOB in collaboration with the Department of Health.
Unemployed matriculants with school subjects of science and mathematics or biology and mathematics had been recruited and selected as field workers for this programme. The programme was funded through the government’s social capital programme.
LOFOB presented courses in Orientation and Mobility and basic Skills of Daily Living. The Department of Health presented courses in vision screening and understanding the eye. The successful completion of the course enables the CHW to identify people with low vision and do the appropriate referrals. The candidates have shown dedication, commitment and perseverance, which will now enable them to serve their communities.
The collaboration between the Health Department and LOFOB enabled career pathing for three of the candidates. One is currently undergoing training as an Orientation and Mobility Instructor in Johannesburg; one is employed at LOFOB as a craft instructor and another is employed at one of the Cape Town hospitals.
This training will open doors to further opportunities for the successful trainees. They have knowledge and skill that can be utilised in both the eye care and rehabilitation sectors.
The MEC for Health in the Western Cape is expected to attend this ceremony.
MEDIA RELEASE
10 APRIL 2005.
In a festive ceremony LOFOB celebrated the work with blind people of 75 year old Lilian Arendse at a ceremony on Sunday the 10TH April 2005.Mrs Arendse has been involved with LOFOB for 51 years as a volunteer. She has served the Grassy Park local committee of LOFOB in various capacities bringing winter comfort and Christmas cheer to many people. Her unselfish sterling work was recognised and LOFOB nominated her for the South African National Council for the Blind ‘s 75th Anniversary Award.
LOFOB’s executive director, Mr Philip M Bam, presented Ms Arendse with a gold medal on behalf of the SANCB at a ceremony with friends and family at the LOFOB Centre.
“ Service to humanity in being our brother’s keepers with the Hallmark of the community of Ms Arendse’s age”
Mr Bam has made a passionate plea to the community to revert back to those values of service to others, compassion and caring that once drove our community.
LOFOB continues to provide a wide range of service to people and depend on volunteers such as Ms Arendse. Any person interested in volunteering to assist blind people can call the LOFOB office.
LOFOB HONOURS STARWARD RAY OF LIGHT OF CLUB.
At a moving ceremony on Sunday the 10TH April 2005 at the LOFOB Centre a plaque in honour of the Late Sylvia Wolman was unveiled in honour of the work that she has done for blind people throughout the Western Cape.
The Late Mrs Wolman supported her husband Izzy Wolman and the Lions Club of Rondebosch in presenting entertainment once a month for over 30 years. The Lions Club and the Wolman’s arranged evenings of entertainment first at Athlone then later at Grassy Park bringing much joy into the lives of blind people.
“Presenting such entertainment evenings was not only to bring light into the life a person who is blind but it’s significance lies in the fact that the people they served came from the most disadvantaged sectors of our community. The squalor conditions they lived under and it’s bad effects of their lives were slightly ameliorated by this intervention” said Mr Bam.
Sadly time has moved on, people became older and the Ray of Light Club ceased to function. Mrs Wolman however continued her work right up to her last day on earth collecting baskets made by blind people to sell and use as gift containers for her friends. In an emotional and moving ceremony her son, Roy Wolman who left for California on Monday the 11th April 2005 unveiled her plaque in the foyer of LOFOB at the Grassy Park Centre.
It is fitting a proper that such contribution should be recognised.
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