SOUTH AFRICA / STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN

Children with disabilities and their communities would both benefit if society focused on what those children can achieve, rather than what they cannot do, according to UNICEF’s annual State of the World’s Children report, its annual flagship publication. In South Africa, 18-year-old Benedictor Mokoena discussed the reality of life with a disability.

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:25
• Production Date: 11 June 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: DISEASE PREVENTION; DISEASE CONTROL; PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; MEDICINE; YOUTH
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH AFRICA
• MAMS Id: U130611f

Description

STORY: SOUTH AFRICA / STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN
TRT: 2.25
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 23 MAY 2013 PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICAN

Shotlist

1. Close up, Benedictor tying shoelace
2. Close up, Benedictor
3. Close up, Benedictor buttoning up her shirt
4. Med shot, Benedictor doing her hair
5. Close up, Benedictor doing her hair
6. Wide shot, Benedictor leaving her room
7. Close up, wheels of wheelchair
8. Med shot, Benedictor in wheelchair
9. Wide shot, Benedictor in wheelchair
10. Close up, Benedictor
11. Close up, wheels of wheelchair
12. Wide shot, Benedictor crossing road
13. Wide shot, Benedictor passing the Chemistry building
14. Close up, Benedictor
15. Wide shot, library
16. Close up, feet
17. Wide shot, Benedictor entering library
18. Wide shot, Benedictor going through to special assisted needs workroom
19. Close up, sign special assisted needs workroom
20. Med shot, Benedictor in SAN workroom
21. Close up, Benedictor at computer
22. Wide shot, Benedictor being assisted by visually impaired student
23. Wide shot, Benedictor leaving library
24. Wide shot, Benedictor and friend walking outside
25. Close up, Benedictor laughing at table
26. Wide shot, Benedictor with friend at table
27. Med shot, Benedictor studying
28. Close up, Benedictor studying
29. Close up, Benedictor

Storyline

Children with disabilities and their communities would both benefit if society focused on what those children can achieve, rather than what they cannot do, according to UNICEF’s annual State of the World’s Children report, its annual flagship publication.

In South Africa 18-year-old Benedictor Mokoena discussed the reality of life with a disability.

“My name is Benedictor Mokoena. I am 18 years old and I’m a first year student at University of Pretoria. I’m studying a BSC in biological sciences.

Fearless is not being completely unafraid. But what is more important is living in spite of those things that scare you to death.

On 2007, the 5th March. It was a Monday, I was going to school and I was in a bantam bakkie (truck), a red one. It got a puncture, like it started rolling. So my vertebral column I think its broke now.

I stayed in hospital for three month and then the day when I as supposed to go home the doctor was like, ‘You’ll fetch your wheelchair at Polokwane provincial’, and I’m like ‘a wheelchair, like what’s going on here?’ And they gave me the wheelchair and I thought things were going to get better but they didn’t and that’s when I had to see a psychologist and stuff.

Both my parents passed away before the accident so I don’t have parents. So I’m living with my aunt and my uncle. I think my aunt was having it tough, I think.

It’s no one’s fault. It happened. Unfortunately it had to happen to me.

I don’t want people to feel sorry for me.

I think there is a difference between sympathy and empathy. I don’t like sympathy. When people are being sympathetic, you make feel like I can’t do anything.

Sometimes I’m not having it as easy as people think I am. Sometimes I’m really struggling I don’t want to lie, but I just have to push hard.

Cause you can’t just sit on a wheelchair and say, ‘I can’t do anything.’ You can do something with your life. You can do something with your life. You can do something for your life.”