- “Differently-abled” children were in their element when given the chance to shine on the catwalk at the Different is Cool Fashion Show at a Cape Town school hall.
- The event was launched in 2016 and is the legacy project of the Daniel and Friends Fund.
- Sponsors like the Foschini Group also hoppped on board to make the day special for the kids taking part.
Saturday was their day to shine, an opportunity for “differently-abled” children to unashamedly take the spotlight on the catwalk with the delightful Different is Cool Fashion Show.
With siblings, family and friends cheering them on – dapper in a special range of clothing sponsored by the Foschini Group – the floor belonged to them.
The atmosphere in the school hall at Brackenfell Primary was jubilant and bustling with excitement and anticipation.
This event, launched in 2016, is the legacy project of Daniel and Friends Fund, an organisation aimed at making a difference in the lives of disabled children – to spread the message that every disability has a possibility.
Awareness
Daniel and Friends director Lianie le Roux says the fashion show was inspired by the organisation’s school visits a few years ago.
“The aim was to bring more awareness to schools, where we saw a great lack of understanding about disability. Our message to the children [was]: ‘We all look different, but everybody has the same heart’. With this show, our disabled children can enjoy the day with their parents and able-bodied siblings. It is the highlight of our year.”
Ely Hadiya from Macassar, who is hearing impaired, could not wait to walk down the runway with her siblings. They eagerly awaited the line-up.
“We are all so excited because it is the first time she will be doing something like this. She is not usually involved in social events, so this is wonderful,” says mom Soekayna.
Cool to be different
Minutes before the show started, Sandy Turketti from Somerset-West told TygerBurger it was also the first time for her son William, 8.
“He can be so introverted, but we are expecting something beautiful today,” she said, and was not disappointed when young William confidently walked down the ramp flanked with his proud parents.
The children were full of smiles as they prided themselves on abilities they never thought they had. It was easy to see why this was the best “fashion show” in Cape Town.
This is where disabled children find their confidence, says long time ambassador for the organisation, Michelle Gildenhuys Adams, a former model and pageant coach.
“In the normal fashion-setting, disabled children [do] not have this opportunity. This shows them that differently-abled children can also take part in a fashion show or any other performance for that matter. This is my favourite event.”
The Foschini Group took Daniel and Friends under their wing after they heard of the work the organisation does.
“It is wonderful to give the parents this opportunity and show the children [that] anything is possible. It is their moment to celebrate,” says the group’s Bianca van Nieuwholtz.
