Children, Events, Impact, In the Media
Casual Day Team Celebrates Photo Competition Winners with School Visits
Mar
The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) Casual Day team recently visited Alma School in Pretoria and Wings for Life School in Vereeniging to celebrate the winners of the highly successful #ISeeYou photographic competition, which formed part of the milestone 30th anniversary Casual Day campaign.
The Casual Day mascot, Abel, was part of the team to brighten up the learners’ days with interactive photo opportunities.
Both schools demonstrated their exceptional photo achievements, with Wings for Life School former learner, Alexander du Toit, winning 1st place and Alma School receiving 2nd and 3rd places in the “Best Child” category. The second-place position went to Amukelani Chauke, whilst Amy Portier took third place. Alma School was also the second-place winner in the Group Photo category.
At the time of the visit, Alexander had been transferred from Wings for Life School, so the team had to hand over the prizes to the school principal, Mrs Dippenaar.
“The school visits are the cherry on top of our 30th anniversary drive and reflect the brilliance and dedication vibrant within our special and additional needs education sector,” Therina Wentzel, NCPD’s National Director, said.
“To me, it was a heartwarming reminder of the significance of our ‘I See You’ message, and it was amazing to get to see and hear the excitement on the learners’ faces as they shared their recognition of the winners.”
Packs of Krispy Kreme doughnuts were generously donated for learners at both schools to celebrate. It was part of a regular package of treats which was received with excitement, making the atmosphere even more festive.
The smiles and joy of the learners who received the special treat truly captured the essence of the Casual Day campaign, which aims to promote an attitude of joy and community.
“The doughnuts were definitely a highlight for our learners,” remarked Mrs Roberts, Support Phase Teacher from Alma School. “To see the learners not only being recognised for their artistic achievements but also to be treated to such a well-loved treat made for a truly memorable day for all involved.”
Alma School Deputy Principal on Casual Day Partnership
The photo competition received thousands of entries across social media from around the country and formed a key part of the “I See You” campaign, which aimed to raise awareness and inclusion for persons with disabilities across the country.
The entries that won from each school captured powerful moments that aligned with the campaign’s themes of recognition, dignity and empowerment.
Casual Day has, over the years, grown into one of South Africa’s most prominent initiatives for the estimated 3.3 million persons with disabilities in the country since its inception in 1994.
The monetary donations received through Casual Day help fund essential needs that include assistive devices, skills development, employment placement, creating accessible transportation, running sustainable food gardens, providing gender-based violence support and continence care.
Wings for Life Principal
In an announcement made by the NCPD, as the organisation gears up for its “Show and Tell” events kicking off next month, there are also plans to reveal the total amount raised during the 30th anniversary campaign and debut the theme for Casual Day 2025.
“The success of the photo competition, and our school visits as a whole, show how effective community engagement and visual storytelling are for furthering our mission,” Wentzel said.
“Krispy Kreme’s generous donation contributed to making our winners’ celebration even sweeter while we applaud South Africans who are standing behind our vision of a truly inclusive society − we are most grateful for your continued support.”
To learn more about NCPD’s programmes, or to participate in their next Casual Day campaign, please visit www.casday.co.za or call 011 452 2774.