Helping autistics
Zekwande Mathenjwa is an enthusiastic 16-year-old from Pretoria, who started his own foundation when he was 14.
The Zekwande Foundation is part of the "I am Able" campaign which was launched in Mossel Bay on 15 September. The aim of the campaign is to make Mossel Bay the first autism- and disability friendly town in Africa. The campaign is an ETHAN Project initiative, together with the Mossel Bay municipality, the International Association for Spelling2Communicate and the Zekwande Foundation.
Zekwande is living his dream life of advocating for others and being a voice for the silent.
The Zekwande Foundation's vision is to not speak for autistics, but to teach them to speak for themselves.
According to Marc Bruyère, who has been part of Zekwande's life for two and a half years and is handling his social media posts, Zekwande feels that the biggest problem is ignorance.
"Zekwande loves being autistic and is living his best life. He wants to bring that realisation to others."
Nicola Sowah, a speech therapist, who has been a part of Zekwande's life since he was three years old, explains that his parents set up the non-profit organisation on Zekwande's request. "They support him fully and understand that it is important for him to help others." Nicola is a board member of the Zekwande Foundation. "We started with Spelling2Communicate four years ago and it was the first time we derived benefit from any such programme."
According to Nicola, Zekwande believes that advocacy is his future and is what he wants to do.
Zekwande says: "What oppresses us? It is not autism, it is ignorance, egos, people who don't know better. It is not my autism. I love being autistic; for me it is wonderful, and I enjoy it." Nicola explains that they are working together, doing research to develop new information to assist schools in how to alter their curriculum to accommodate nonspeakers.