[VIDEO] Bulimba | How cool is this?

Author // Shannon Edwards for Place Bulimba

Working with all the ‘cool’ things from fast cars and adventures to influential people, I Can I Will is a charity aimed at influencing and empowering children to believe in themselves.

Run by Bulimba local, Conan Visser, I Can I Will gives life changing experiences to children with special needs all through granting them a ‘wish.’  

“I Can I Will is all about promoting inclusion between those with, and those without special needs,” says founder of the charity, Conan Visser.

Today we met with Conan along the banks of the Brisbane River in Bulimba, where he shared the story of I Can I Will.

“All it took was for one little boy to inspire me, that made me want to inspire others” says Conan.

How did I can I will begin?

It all started from a personal experience that I had in 2010.

I was approached by the parents of a young boy with special needs named Nolan.

I had never really had any experience with someone with special needs, but luckily enough I wasn’t intimidated.

I took him on and started training him as his personal trainer three days a week.

Nolan went from a little, shy boy who couldn’t look you in the eyes and would welter at the thought of a physical challenge to now opening up my speeches for I Can I Will in front of thousands of people.

Nolan is now a qualified personal trainer, when his parents never thought he’d be able to work, and also has his licence allowing him to drive around independently.

There is no limit for Nolan, yet he thought he had a limit.

All he needed was someone who he could look up to, to believe in him so he could believe in himself.

Why is it important to promote inclusion in schools?

Not only does inclusion in schools better a child’s schooling and quality of daily life, but it also helps to benefit them in later life.

The I Can I Will program looks at decreasing homelessness.

70% of our homeless here have special needs and feel that they cannot contribute to society because of that.

If we can empower that group as a whole to eradicate bullying out of schools it will also help decrease youth suicide.

Shocking statistics show that youth suicide rates have quadrupled in the past four years, with 80% of that being due to bullying.

If we can empower the children to stand up for one another, following an all-for-one, one-for-all mantra, we can then lower youth suicide heavily.

We also aim to decrease domestic violence.

Research shows that a lot of domestic violence cases come from a bullying nature in schools.

If we can eradicate that out of school we can then lower domestic violence in the next generation.

Tell us about I Can I Will’s involvement with Bulimba Festival

A number of years ago the local RSL pulled out of the Bulimba Festival and it was cancelled.

From there, I joined a committee to bring the festival back. I was proud to be a part of that committee and see the festival return to Bulimba.

I Can I Will is now a charity partner for the festival.

This year we want to bring a children’s lane back to the festival with rides and jumping castles – bringing back the strong community and family feel of the festival.

All the rides are going to be free for any children with special needs in order to promote inclusion.

If you have any contacts that could help make life changing wishes, please contact I Can I Will.