Fun-tastic safaris

Shabna Ponnad dreamt of the oceans and the waterfalls. She wished to travel the world to feel the wind in her hair, to experience nature and its raw beauty she saw in paintings and photographs. Being  bound to a wheelchair, her dreams were confined to her home. If not for the Facebook group Team Safari, Shabna's wishes would have never been fulfilled and today, Shabna is a proud admin of the group.

Team Safari was founded just a few months ago by Rahoof Moni, Dr Anwar and school teacher Nasar. Rahoof Moni says, “Three of us have travelled together quite a few times, but none of our group trips had a single differently-abled person. What happened during such group events is that people only think of taking along abled ones. I used to suggest during other group trips about the happiness we would get by taking along someone who is confined to a wheelchair. We have always felt that the happiness and glow in their eyes would make our journey meaningful.”

Despite his suggestions, the idea of taking along a disabled was not encouraged by other groups. “That was when we came up with this group. Although there are other groups who take differently-abled on short trips, how it differs from the trips organised by Team Safari is that they pick easy locations and the trip will comprise only wheelchair-bound persons and their bystanders. When Safari plans a trip, we have a mixed group. There might be 50 people who are travelling on bikes and three to four wheelchair-bound persons who travel with us in a car. We also pick locations that are not ideal for wheelchairs, so four people are assigned to carry the differently-abled.”He adds, “We have taken them right into the Athippara waterfalls and even carried them along steep trails. Moreover, the financial part of these persons is taken care of by the other able members.”  Trips are planned considering the condition of various wheelchair-bound persons. “Apart from the long duration trips, short trips are arranged for those who have been laid up for a while now. Even shorter outings are arranged closer to home depending on their condition,” says Rouf, who adds their objective is also to inspire others.