November - Department of Defence

Survivor Day withthe SignallersBy Col Heidi Gunter,OC School of SignalsPhoto: Cpl Niel OttoHelen Keller once said: "Whenone door of happiness closes,another opens: but often welook so long at the closed doorthat we do not see the onewhich has been opened for us."Using this as our guide theSchool of Signals took up the initiativeon Casual Day by reaching out to ourcommunity, thinking wider - outsidethe box - to make a difference at theNew Hope School in the lives of thelearners with special needs.The School of Signals, as part ofthe SA Army Signal Formation, adoptedthe New Hope School in Menlyn,Pretoria, in 2007 and has hosted thusfar two Casual Day events for itslearners. The New Hope School wasestablished in Pretoria in 1971 and istoday one of the largest learning centresin the country to make provisionfor the education and treatment oflearners with special educationalneeds. Almost 70 teachers and therapistswork in this educational environment,which accommodates learnersof all races, classes, beliefs and cultures.You can visit their website at:www.newhopeschool.co.za.Various civilian companies madedonations (funds and promotionalitems) towards this day. Kestrel,Pinnacle Micro, ADS, GlobalCommunications and the SACS NoncommissionedOfficers Club were openheartedin respect of our "Survivor Day"as presented at the New Hope School.On the day of the event volunteersfrom the School of Signals, learners oncourses and volunteers from the SAArmy Signals Formation took part in theevents and supported the participatingteams. Winning team members receivedprizes and each learner received a waterbottle sponsored by XON and a medalas a souvenir.As a training institution, we havemany members from other units oncourse. We motivated all learners oncourse to buy Casual Day stickers.The project has enabled us to buildand sustain effective social relationshipswith people with disabilities. We do notalways realise and accept that peoplecan help themselves to a certain extent.An example that will always be close tothe soldiers' hearts and minds is thewords of the children in wheelchairs:"Miss (teacher), you must not forgetabout my brake, you cannot push me,first release my brake". "Miss, you mustSurvivors …not forget to put my brake on".When the day came to an end werealised how much we had learnt fromone another by working effectivelytogether as a team, sharing similar values,respecting and trusting one another,and having fun together. Highmorale and esprit de corps contributedto the success of the project.InitiativesIn the course of 2008 the School ofSignals has also recruited SA ArmySignal Formation soccer team membersto visit the New Hope School on amonthly basis to teach and train thelearners with disabilities about soccertechniques.During 2007 and 2008 facilitatorsfrom the School of Signals attended theBeginner Sign Language Course thatwas presented by the Tshwane SignLanguage Centre at the Naval Mess inPretoria, and attendance at futurecourses is planned.The facilities of the School ofSignals are in the process of beingupgraded to make them more userfriendlyto learners with disabilitiesand to staff members. (These projectsare still subject to the receipt of thenecessary funds.)PlanningThe SA Army Signals FormationCasual Day project entailed giving thelearners an opportunity to have a funfilledday by presenting a "SurvivorDay". This year's event was biggerthan the previous year, as it includedwheelchair racing and, for thosewho could walk on their own, obstaclecrossing, leopard crawling, pushups,target shooting with paint ballsand water slides, including mentalperseverance, imagination, creativityand understanding between fellowcompetitors.45NO VEMB ER 2 0 0 8 • S A S O L D I E R