Vuvuzelas blowing. Vibrant colours parading. Yellow, green, red, blue, black. The smell of braai vleis. The sound of laughter. Music. Drumbeat. Gees.What is it to be South African? To survive and thrive in SA is to be the ultimate in resilience. To feed off the friendliness and deep sense of community and comradery. To always be able to make a plan in the face of a pit of problems. To be able to rise from the chaos and succeed in creativity. To always be willing to help, give a hand up, find a different perspective and a new way, together. This sounds a lot like the philosophy of Occupational Therapy doesn’t it?
How fitting is it that OT week this year begins on Heritage Day. This week we embark on building awareness for our profession, advocating for our clients and building a rich and strong community. Unity through Community: Embrace the Change.
At The OT Link, our heritage represents the heart and soul of who we are and what we stand for. 
Family: Our journey begins with family – the bedrock of our lives, reminding us of the importance of personal connections and the support system that shapes us, as well as the pivotal role family plays for our clients. 
Friendship: Our story is one of friendship, highlighting the power of collaboration that gave birth to our organization and continues to propel us forward.
Community: We’re deeply committed to the OT community, extending our efforts beyond providing CPD opportunities. Our mission reflects our responsibility and dedication to serving the broader professional community.
Affordability and Accessibility: Our vision is clear – we’re here to make CPD accessible and affordable for all. We’re on a mission to break down barriers and ensure learning and professional development are within reach for every OT.
Evidence-Based Practice: Quality matters to us. Our commitment to evidence-based CPD underscores our dedication to offering knowledge and skills rooted in the best available evidence.
Variety and Growth: We’re passionate about offering diverse courses, catering to OTs at every level and across various fields of practice. Our goal is to continually inspire and challenge OTs to expand their horizons.
Learner-Centric Approach: You, the OT community, are at the core of what we do. Your input shapes our courses, from requests to debates, reviews, and feedback. Together, we chart our path forward.
Gratitude: As we mark our journey of the past five years, we express our heartfelt gratitude to you, the OT community, for your unwavering support and active involvement. You are the cornerstone of our success, and we’re excited to continue this vibrant OT journey together.
Thank you for being a part of The OT Link community!
We cannot wait to celebrate this week with all of you and invite you to join in The OT Link fun, appreciation and advocacy each day this week!
THIS WEEK we would LOVE to HEAR YOUR VIEWS of what “Being South African” and means to YOU? As a person. As an OT. What does being South African mean to your CLIENTS?
Add your thoughts in the comments below. And stand a chance to win a R300 course voucher at the OT Link.
Best regards, Jennifer Hooper, Partner at The OT Link