Empowering lives: Anele Zama's journey with Made for More

Anele Zama never imagined that stepping away from her corporate job would lead her to a rewarding career dedicated to empowering people with disabilities.

After volunteering for Made for More, a non-profit company and Public Benefit Organisation, Zama realised her true calling was to make a difference in the lives of others.

Six years later, she now serves as the organisation’s manager, championing a cause that uses sport as a vehicle for empowerment and inclusion.

Founded by Julia van Zyl, Made for More has its headquarters in Amahlongwa, near Scottburgh on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal.

The organisation’s mission revolves around leveraging sport to bring hope, foster relationships, and instill values while equipping athletes with disabilities to pursue their sporting careers both provincially and nationally.

It offers a range of services including high performance coaching, exercise therapy, awareness events, leadership camps, mentorship programs, surf therapy, and para surfing.

Zama’s journey with Made for More began while she was still entrenched in the corporate world.

"When I heard the testimonies of some of the beneficiaries that changed my life to get more involved as a volunteer. I realised the corporate world was not for me and began working at Made For More and here I am six years later," she said.  

Made for More reaches out to most parts of Durban including Merewent, Chatsworth, Westville and Hillcrest.

Zama, who has a National Diploma in Business Management and a postgraduate certificate in education said their aim is to have a space for people with disabilities to be included but to also break the stigma and help them to live purposeful lives.

"I love people and I love the work that I do because of the people that we serve. It is so awesome to be able to create a community where people with disabilities can be with each other and motivate one another.

"No one judges anyone because everyone has a disability of some form," she said.

Zama said the challenges they encountered were mainly in the rural areas.

"That is where we are trying to break the stigma and trying to get people to get their children out the house and allow Made for More to come and play and create that sense of belonging.

"There are so many superstitions that exist regarding having a disability or having a child with a disability. They are then not included and become so comfortable being hidden that it's so difficult to get people to come out and play," said Zama.

She said with the organisation registered as not for profit, finances were always limited.

"We see about 400 people a week. We want to do more, but unfortunately due to restrictions you do what you can with what you have," she said.

Despite the challenges, Made for More boasts numerous success stories, including that of Sabelo Ngema, a world record holding para surfer.

"Sabelo came to surf as therapy. He showed potential and ended up para surfing. Another internationally recognised athlete is Similo Dlamini from KwaMashu. She loved the water but was not keen to surf at first. She remembers one of the coaches after her first session saying you are going to be one of our champions and the next year she competed and made the world champions. Those are two of hundreds of stories where people have talked about being healed from depression, anxiety and mental health in general," said Zama.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE