Angel in a wheelchair

Twenty-five years ago, Gugu Zulu began a painful journey that would change not only her own life but give hope and comfort to many people with physical disabilities in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal.

In 1978, Zulu was diagnosed with an acute form of rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that shut down all sensation in the lower part of her body and confined her to a wheelchair.

New to the challenging world of quadriplegics, Zulu was expected to learn to function and perform on a totally different, yet limited, level in the same environment.

Her struggles, frustrations and unmet expectations made her aware of the immense difficulties people with disabilities have to deal with every day - from dealing with inconsiderate fellow human beings, and trying to keep her head up in a world geared for the able-bodied, to the despondency of fellow people with disabilities.

To meet these challenges, Zulu started the Zimasiza Society for the Disabled. The society's main aim was to ensure that, through education, skills training and formal employment, people with disabilities could become more active members of the able-bodied world.

Zimasiza also teaches the communities in which people with disabilities live to be more considerate of the challenges that people with disabilities face. According to Zulu, Zimasiza today has 115 members, 36 of whom are in full-time employment.

In 1992, Zulu started a crèche for Osizweni's disabled children. Today the facility houses 24 children between the ages of 18 months and six years.

The caring strength, perpetual optimism and "can-do" attitude displayed by Gugu Zulu embody the values of Brand South Africa, and are an inspiration to us all.