School | Hamilton Primary School |
Lives in | Pretoria, Gauteng |
Asante Sedibeng is a lively, confident young learner at Hamilton Primary School in Pretoria, Gauteng. He has big dreams for his future and strong opinions about what it means to be a prosthetic device user, and all the opportunities that his equipment allows him to pursue.
Born with a congenital condition known as Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency, Asante underwent a below-knee amputation on 26 August 2020; he was 2 years old at the time.
After his family reached out to Jumping Kids for help, Asante was fitted with his first walking prosthesis, only two months later, on 15 October 2020. Since then, he has been constantly on the go and thriving.
When asked about his prosthesis Asante says, “I am able to do my day-to-day activities, play with other kids and also perform some of the active tasks at school and on the playground, such as jumping, climbing, hopping, and standing on one leg”.
Asante was selected as a The Star Foundation candidate in 2024.
Q&A
Life skills. It is fun, I love making friends and playing with my peers. It teaches me to be independent and learn to do things on my own. I learn about social things such as helping and being kind to others, taking care of animals, exercise, and hygiene. It helps me to be creative and to understand my emotions.
I want to be an astronaut and go in space, or a firefighter to save lives and keep people safe, or a policeman so I can catch people who do bad things.
Swimming and gymnastics.
I don’t want to have limitations when it comes to my disability and using a prosthetic leg. I want to be free and confident, pursue my dreams and embrace my prosthetic leg as a unique part of life. I know I can conquer anything that comes my way. My prosthesis allows me to do most things but in addition, I want to be able to run faster and climb better, I want to do everything my siblings and friends can do to show them I am just as capable. I want to be able to ride a bicycle, ride a horse and feel free and play sports like soccer.
You are a superstar, and amazing just the way you are. Your body might be differently abled, but that’s what makes you unique and most special. Keep shining, keep smiling and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. You’re not alone – there are people who care about you and want to support you.