Dagbreek champions inclusion through awareness
As of February, Dagbreek School in Windhoek, which serves learners with intellectual disabilities, has a waiting list of over 200 children.
To raise awareness and promote inclusion, the school is hosting the Run for Intellectual Disabilities, bringing learners, parents and the wider community onto the same track. More than a charity event, it highlights that these learners are defined not by limitations, but by potential, determination and belonging.
Learner Lesandro Gariseb shared his excitement about the event and how he hopes his family and friends will see him: “They will be happy, they will be proud of me, and I will show them my talent. I feel growth when I'm practising for the marathon. I feel strong. Faster.”
When asked about challenges, he added, “Yes, it's hard because I do not have running shoes, but I'll still continue. Because I love running.”
Parent Erica Tueutjiua, mother of learner Catherine Angombe, said, “I believe the marathon helps the community see that our children are capable, strong and determined. It shows that they are not defined by their challenges, but by their abilities, courage and willingness to participate just like any other child. It also promotes understanding, acceptance and inclusion.”
She added, “This will be my daughter’s first marathon, and she is eager to take part. Being disabled doesn’t mean being incapable. Events like this give them confidence and the courage to face any challenge in life.”
Shatipamba, a special needs teacher at Dagbreek, said, “As someone who works with these learners every day, I see this marathon as a powerful platform that changes how our community views children with intellectual disabilities. Too often, society focuses on limitations instead of abilities. The event allows our learners to stand proudly in public, not as recipients of sympathy, but as athletes, competitors, and achievers.”
She added, “After seeing our learners compete nationally and perform exceptionally well, we were proud. But there was no official recognition or proper categorisation for intellectual disabilities. Lydia Matheus, the event coordinator, recognised this gap and initiated the marathon. The vision is to promote inclusivity, raise awareness, and create a sustainable running platform for our school team.”
The marathon will take place at Windhoek High School on 28 March 2026, with a 2.5 km race for participants with intellectual disabilities, and 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km categories for the general public. Registration is N$20 for learners and N$50 for the public. Each participant will receive a finisher’s medal and T-shirt, because every step taken deserves recognition.
According to the 2023 Namibia Population and Housing Census, the overall prevalence of functional disability in Namibia is estimated at 4.4% of the population, meaning approximately 108 990 individuals live with some form of disability. In rural areas, the figure rises to 5.8%, according to a Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) report released on 30 October 2024.
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