Roberto gives inspiration to Special Olympics Zambia athletes during COVID-19

Special Olympics Zambia, with its partners Sport in Action and University of East London, collaborated with top Zambian musician to produce a music video which has reached over 70,000 plays less than a week after being released.

The video titled ‘Don’t Cry’ features Special Olympics Zambia Athletes from the slums of Mandevu, five kilometres from the Zambian capital, Lusaka headlined by artist Robert Banda, also known as ‘Roberto’.

‘Don’t Cry’ is one of the songs which are part of the ‘Act Unified’ music album dedicated to thousands of Special Olympics athletes and their families in Zambia and throughout the world. The album is a compilation of 9 songs by 12 of Zambia’s top artists in the music industry. 7 of the artists are Special Olympics Ambassadors who have been graciously supporting various programs of the Special Olympics movement in Zambia.

“As we say thank you to Roberto, we are excited that the video is receiving very good air time on our various social and mainstream media platforms. We believe that it will bring to the fore, the usually isolated and under-served in every society. The concerns and cries of thousands of our lovely people with disabilities are not heard, and when they are heard, they are not attended to for various unacceptable reasons, which we hope these highly influential role models will continue challenging,” said Special Olympics Board Chair, Dr Clement Chileshe.

“We are very much taken aback by the effect of COVID-19, as it brings to the fore the key vices of ‘Social Distancing’ and ‘Isolation’ that so many of our athletes experience every day. These realities can being so much pain.”

“We need to ensure the flip side of this coin, which is compassion, care, inclusion and support for our athletes. We hope that many who have never been sensitive to the pain of isolation, that thousands of our athletes experience every day, will now realize the pain it presents. Even in these very challenging times, we hope the video will positively contribute to stronger and more positive minded people and their families. We hope it gives them a little more inspiration, and belief for a better tomorrow and life after COVID-19. Some of our athletes are taking part in fighting at various fronts”, Chileshe said.

“This song has a very special meaning to me, the hardships my Mum has faced, and hardships many other people face, and this song is for you”, said Roberto.

“For the video, I wanted to share a story about our society, there are households with disabled children. In many homes, parents can teach their children about safe hand-washing and distancing, and the child can begin to learn what they need to do to keep safe. But I’ve seen with my own eyes the challenges faced by the care-givers of less abled children. Some of these children are not able to understand the need for a mask, need help in washing their hands, and aren’t able to keep themselves safe.”

“If you know of a family or household in that situation near you, spare them a thought, lend them a hand if you can — whatever little you can give of your time or resources can make a difference to their day and shine a light for others in our battle against COVID-19”, added Roberto.