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To celebrate and honour differently abled women the Broken Crayons Still Colour Beautifully Symposium was launched recently.
The aim of the symposium, which is the brainchild of Notukela Makohliso, founder of the Notukela Foundation Institute (NFI), is to bring women from different sectors together for information sharing and engagement.
The NFI was started in 2019 and aims to motivate and inspire the vulnerable people in communities and to give them a voice. The foundation offers motivational talks, coaching, mentoring and training nationally.
Makohliso says: “The symposium was exclusively for women who are differently abled. And bringing women from different sectors together so that they can engage. We had members from the City of Cape Town, the department of labour and Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) present.”
The symposium started on Monday 8 August at the Artscape Theatre and was attended by about 80 women.
“Everyone has a level of brokenness in them and with healing we can still persevere in life and colour beautifully. When I thought of the symposium, I wanted a name that spoke of healing,” explains Makohliso.
Makohliso says there are renewed calls on government to support differently abled people, especially women.
“We had different speakers that addressed us. It was to encourage people who want to build a better future for themselves. We deserve a real seat at the table. The call is for government to give us a fair chance in life for real opportunities that will build dignity into people’s lives.”
The symposium concluded with a gala evening and an award ceremony to honour differently abled women making waves in society. The gala evening took place at the Dolphin Beach Hotel in Bloubergstrand on Tuesday 9 August (Women’s Day).
The Broken Crayons Colour Me Beautiful Award sought to recognise three current trailblazers and contributions of women who are committed to the betterment and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Awarded on the night was Dr Marlene Le Roux, disability and women’s rights activist and Chief Executive Officer of the Artscape Theatre, Dr Karen Smit, who holds a PhD in Disability Studies from the University of Cape Town and Principal Specialist at Vodacom. And Lidia Pretorius, a disability rights activist who has worked in rural development, disability inclusion, and public policymaking for 30 years.
Makohliso says: “The event exceeded my expectations. At the symposium one of the women came to me and said ‘I have never been invited to a women’s day event, I have never felt like I was celebrated.’ So, people felt heard, seen and celebrated.”
Tamelyn Bock, Miss Wheelchair SA, who also attended the event, says: “It was amazing that we as women with impairments can all be in one place and honouring a few women that stand up and that are fighting for us, knocking on doors and wanting to bring change.”
Le Roux says the Artscape decided to host the symposium as it coincided with their annual Women Humanity Arts Festival.
“Women with disabilities are still presented with double if not triple discrimination of sexism, ageism, racism and ableism. These are issues that require constant ventilation which this symposium sought to focus on through dialogue. Therefore Artscape sought to partner with the Nokutela Foundation Institute (NFI).
Upon receiving the award, Le Roux says she felt “humbled”.
The award is very special to me, as this award was given to me by Women With Disabilities. As a gainfully employed woman with a disability it once again taught me that several women, if not most women and persons with disabilities still face a mountain of challenges that impacts their ability to lead supported but independent lives including the difficulty of finding permanent gainful employment.”
She adds: “It also highlighted the fact that constant support “especially (to) women with disabilities” as well as the need for persons with disabilities to continuously support each other in whatever way we could.”
Makohliso says they hope to have the symposium annually.
“This year we have partnered with the Artscape, they have their Women’s Humanity arts festival every year in August. We are hoping to work with them in future.”
