Cape Town - From a backyard in Kuils River to addressing a senate at the UN headquarters in New York, a 12-year-old partially-sighted boy now aims to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Nelson Mandela, by winning a Nobel Peace Prize.
Joel Greek was honoured in a ceremony attended by Western Cape Social Development MEC Albert Fritz at the Athlone School for the Blind in Bellville South on Wednesday.
The confident Grade 7 pupil recently received his award at the 38th annual Lions Day ceremony held in conjunction with the UN, after winning an essay contest that received entries from contestants from over 100 countries.
He described his time in New York as “living a dream”, shaking the hands of American diplomats and meeting the winner of the competition’s peace poster category, 12-year-old Yumo Zhu of China.
“I was so nervous, and kept telling myself that I can do this as they led me down the hall where a tapestry hung with pictures of the former heads of the UN. Everyone was watching me. In the (plush) room, there was a representative from the New York senate, members of the UN and Lion Club members who were watching me. I had the honour of speaking, as well as Yumo. I got a standing ovation. It was so exciting and a huge experience for me.”
Joel will jet off to Japan in June to inspire youth to overcome their disabilities and “achieve greatness”. He is the second winner of the competition from Cape Town – André de Villiers was the first in 1998 – said the district governor of the Lions Club, Sue Charles.
Joel, who lives with his single mother in a backyard in Kuils River, was diagnosed with optic glaucoma when he was six months old and although he was able to see, his vision deteriorated.
As time passed, Joel lost sight in the one eye and became partially blind in the other.
On Wednesday Joel told the Cape Argus that he aspires to become a historian. “And I hope that some day, in the near future, I would be standing where former president Nelson Mandela stood, receiving my own Nobel Peace Prize.”
Mandela, along with former president FW de Klerk, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for peacefully negotiating the end of apartheid.
“Children must just follow their dreams, it does not matter what background you come from or what your parents do. Your parents can be a cleaner or a maid. In fact, your parents don’t even need to have a job – you can do anything. You can make your parents proud,” Joel said.
His mother, Inge Greek, said: “I am very proud of him. I am very fortunate to have such a son. He is so articulate and mature for his age, sometimes a little too mature.”
His principal, Fletcher Fisher. said: “We are so proud of Joel. He puts us on the international map and is also an inspiration to our learners. I hope this will be an eye-opener for other disabled learners in our country because we need these types of role models.”
As the school’s blind choir filled the hall with music, Fritz encouraged the youth to seize their dreams and become a Joel Greek, because “each of you has the potential to be great”.
Cape Argus