Allen, Andile, Cristi, Hein, Joseph and Karen all have one thing in common: they're living proof that you can do anything you set your mind to. They chatted to Vodacom about their unique challenges and how their circumstances have shaped and motivated them.

Allen Mtatase

At the age of two, Allen was diagnosed with polio. Although his illness led to him being in a wheelchair, Allen refused to let this deter him from his dream of being like Michael Jordan. Here he shares his passion for basketball.

Andile Vellem

Andile's parents are ballroom dancers and discovering their son was deaf wasn't going to deter them from sharing their love of dance and music with him. Now Andile is a choreographer. Here he shares the importance of teaching children with disabilities to be confident in who they are.

Christi du Plooy

Christi may be in her 80s, but this grandma still has a spring in her step! Christi became an athlete in her 50s; now she's an award-winning sportswoman who travels the world to compete. Here she talks about what it takes to be a champion.

Hein Wagner

Hein was born with Leber's Congenital Amaurosis. That is, the receptive cells in his retina didn't develop, so his brain and his eyes aren't communicating. Despite this, Hein describes himself as a 'blind adventurer and athlete' and has taken part in numerous competitions – and broken records.

Joseph Matheatau

Joseph's eyesight started to deteriorate when he was three years old, because of glaucoma. The condition worsened until, in 2010, he lost his sight completely. But this didn't stop Joseph from becoming South Africa's first qualified blind barista.

Karen Smit

Karen heads up the Specific Needs product department in Vodacom. Together with her team, they ensure that Vodacom's services are accessible by everyone with a disability. Accessibility is a particular passion of Karen's and she understands the need well: Karen was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when she was three years old.

You can read about the services Vodacom offers people with Specific Needs on their website.