Special needs centre pleads for support
Donations of items needed to provide care
Enkuthazweni special needs centre is appealing to the Port Alfred public to donate items to help keep the Mdoda Street, Nemato-based facility and its life skills programmes going.
The school provides care and education to 30 children with intellectual disabilities, who live in indigent households.
According to the school’s founder, Nomhle Ngenase, most of the children are from Nemato; however, there are a few children from other parts of the greater Ndlambe municipal area.
Azisa Shode, the school’s administrator, told Talk of the
Town: “We believe that all children have a right to education and we assist children who cannot access mainstream schooling.”
He said about 30 children enrolled in the school every year and were placed in four streams: Grade R, junior, middle and autistic, according to age and ability.
“Children receive a full development assessment in conjunction with a team from the Department of Education which assists us to place the children correctly and to develop a tailored learning programme for each child,” said Shode.
“Our school is led by a qualified and experienced principal who is supported by three teachers and one assistant.”
The department of basic education’s special needs curriculum comprises literacy, numeracy, life skills and fine motor skills. It incorporates individual learning programmes and assessments. Handwork includes knitting, sewing, beadwork, art and crafts, as well as food gardening.
The local community was already generous in their support, said Shode.
“Volunteers assist children in accessing therapeutic horse riding lessons, ballroom and Latin dancing, fencing, handball, rowing and gymnastics.”
Benefactors also offered physiotherapy sessions and educational tours, added Ngenase.
Enkuthazweni was started in Bathurst in 1997 in response to a dire need for day care for children with intellectual disabilities. The centre moved into its current facilities in Nemato in 2000.
The school has pleaded for people and businesses to donate any of the following items to help them provide the right environment and programmes for the children in their care:
School wish list Renovation and maintenance
● Painting materials for the school buildings (interior and exterior) and the swings
● Varnish for the Wendyhouse
● Cleaning materials
Building and infrastructure
● Small gate
● Tiles and window glass
Garden
● Seedlings
Kitchen
● Food for the children: canned foods, fruits and vegetables, flour, maize meal
● Kettle
● Pots
● Stove with oven
If you would like to assist the school with any of the above items, please contact Azisa Shode at 068775-2650 or enkuthazwenischool@yahoo.com.
No form of money as a donation can be accepted.