Ready, willing and able

The feeling of readiness, willingness and ability was evident throughout the Ability Challenge activities in South of France earlier this month, organised for the third time by the Razzett tal-Ħbiberija.

Maria Vella-Galea, one of the participants, said the adrenaline rush provided by the various activities faded in comparison with the satisfaction that one felt when, through team work, a person with a disability successfully completed an activity which to some might seem like child's play.

The Ability Challenge's objective is to provide participants with a unique opportunity to push themselves to the limit while allowing space for personal growth and self-development. More importantly it gives able bodied participants the opportunity to interact with individuals having a physical disability, removing physical, mental and social barriers.

On one occasion, while caving, Ms Vella-Galea only paused to give instructions to Chris, a 36-year-old Ability Challenge participant.

Chris has a hearing impairment so she had to explain how to proceed to the next level of the cave by using sign language, slow speech and clear demonstrations on using the safety equipment. Apart from Chris, there were another person with a hearing impairment, one with polio, one with spina bifida and one with post-traumatic head injury.

The South of France provided the backdrop for the full week of activities, giving the 28 participants the opportunity to paraglide over typical French hillside villages, kayak approximately half a mile offshore from the French Riviera town of Cannes to the Île Sainte-Marguerite, and embark on a caving expedition and orienteering game during a trek through lush forests while enjoying the clean and fresh mountain air of the French Alps.

During the week between August 11 and 18, participants split into teams of seven and were accommodated in tipi tents located in a sheltered campsite in the middle of a forest. Ms Vella-Galea said the kitchen facilities were basic which made preparing food for 28 people quite a task. Each day a different team was responsible for the preparation of breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as the subsequent cleaning of the kitchen. No one was exempted from these duties.

The campsite was equipped with three showers which at most times did not have hot water, thus making it very interesting to see the number of techniques adopted by participants to ensure that they were in time to savour some hot water, especially after a day spent canoeing, jumping and swimming in freezing cold water!

The activities were supervised by qualified personnel from the Razzett tal-Ħbiberija as well as professional guides trained in the various disciplines to ensure that no unnecessary risks were taken.

Ms Vella Galea, who has participated in all three Ability Challenges, said she could see the great improvement from last year by two participants that decided to experience the event again this year. She expressed her thanks and gratitude towards the Vodafone Malta Foundation which has again made her participation possible.