Selfless Teen Serves Children Living With Disability
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday September 9, 2019 11:34
At the age of 17, Sakshi Bhargava made it her quest to make a difference in the lives of children living with disabilities since she was crowned Miss Teen Hope in 2017.
Through her project during the beauty pageant ‘Able Hearts’ Bhargava established the Dynamic Talent Show, which is mandated to showcase the unique talents by children living with disabilities. Held under the theme ‘Disability is not inability’ Dynamic Talent Show was started last year and has so far reached out to tap into institutions, which span the length and breadth of children living with disabilities.
When addressing a horde of people who thronged John Mackenzie Primary School hall recently for the Dynamic Talent Show, Bhargava said the initiative brings the community together in order to prove that disability is not inability.
Bhargava said she started the Dynamic Talent Show after realising the unfair and unjust treatment given to children living with disabilities in their community.
The compassionate teenager said she wanted to prove through the show that children living with disabilities have the same qualities, potential and talents like the rest in the community.
“Dynamic Talent Show targets Francistown Centre for the Deaf (FCD) and Lephoi Centre because children from the two centres need to be showered with love, care, support and attention,” said Bhargava.
She said her noble deed is done so as to empower, instil a sense of self-love and show unselfishness towards the children living in both centres.
The charitable young woman also said people should never underestimate the power of showing love and assisting people living with disabilities.
She encouraged children living with disabilities to keep a positive spirit and never give up and above all they should believe that everything is possible.
When spilling the beans on some of the achievements she has accomplished, Bhargava said she had managed to work hand-in-hand with children at FCD and Lephoi Centre to assist them in realising their fullest potential.
Bhargava said: “This year our team managed to work with a whooping 150 children from both the centres. It brings me joy to have managed to make a great difference in their lives”.
She added that through the Dynamic Talent Show she has managed to fight stigma and discrimination against children living with disabilities.
She shared that the past three years have filled her with the utmost gratitude for what she has in life because as teenagers they tend to take everything for granted even the ability to hear and speak.
In a telephonic interview with the young philanthropist’s mother, Seema Bhargava said that she was favoured to have Sakshi as her daughter.
Seema said her daughter has a heart of gold, is smart and has a bold personality even though she is the youngest in the family.
Seema said in most cases lastborns are often described as temperamental, irresponsible, and self-centred but that does not apply to her daughter, as she possesses the quality of a responsible and noble person.
“She was born at a time when I spent most of the time concentrating on the family business. She was left with our domestic helper and my parents. I believe that this has made my daughter independent and appreciate everything in life,” said Seema of her daughter.
The young heroine’s mother also believes that they played a critical role in her daughter’s behaviour through her upbringing.
She added that like every other parent, they made sure that Sakshi’s needs were fulfilled and that they also reminded her at times that not all children are as fortunate as she was.
Young Women’s Christian Association chairperson in Francistown, Barbara Mosweu spoke highly of Sakshi’s gesture in helping children living with disabilities.
She said such initiatives are needed in the community because even in this era they have parents who have an attitude of hiding children living with disabilities or chasing them.
Mosweu said some people forget that people living with disabilities are entitled to human rights without discrimination.
She further said that empowering children living with disabilities would make them feel equally important or valuable in the society.
Mosweu said: “It is also time that we harness the talents and skills that people living with disabilities have. Please let’s not deny ourselves the opportunities because they were created for a purpose hence there is a need for us to embrace their abilities”.