Press release

Shumbashaba - Making Youth's Dreams Possible

Despite being born with intellectual disabilities and into poverty Themba Sibiya and Maria Matlala, like all young people, have a dream to achieve their potential, to be recognised, and to succeed.   They are two young people whose lives have been fired up with hope.

People with disabilities are one of the most marginalised groups in the world, and for Themba and Maria who live in Diepsloot, this is exacerbated by poverty and lack of access to therapy, sport and recreational opportunities.

But as members of the Bona Lesedi Day Care Centre for people with disabilities, Themba and Maria lives took an unexpected turn when they joined the therapeutic riding programme at Shumbashaba, thus providing them with the opportunity not only to develop physical fitness, improve motor skills, heighten self-confidence and grow a more positive self-image, but also something way beyond their expectations.

Meeting and learning to ride horses has equipped them with the necessary horsemanship skills and provided them with the opportunity to participate in sporting events co-hosted by Shumbashaba and Special Olympics S.A., two organisations that share the same belief that people with intellectual disabilities can with proper instruction and encouragement learn to enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sport.

The opportunity to progress from riding as a therapy to riding as a sport was presented when Shumbashaba and the Gauteng Branch of Special Olympics S.A. (S.O.S.A.) co-hosted several Unified Sports Days offering four different sporting codes – equestrian, bocce, soccer and volleyball – to sportsmen and women both with and without disabilities. As a result of this, S.O.S.A. was granted a quota of two riders, one male and one female, to join the South African team participating in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

As a result of their participation in these Unified Sports Days, a Special Olympics S.A. Advancement Event was held last year, during which Themba and Maria were selected to join the team flying off to Los Angeles in the USA to participate in the Special Olympics World Summer Games. These Games draw the world’s attention to the talents and capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities. Themba and Maria will join the more than 7000 Special Olympics athletes from 170 nations who will compete in 21 Olympic-type sports.

Shumbashaba aims to build a sense of self-worth and purpose in all people who participate in their programmes.   Their therapeutic riding and equine assisted growth and learning programmes, supporting people with disability and youth at risk from Diepsloot, has gained high acclaim over the years  winning numerous local and international awards.