By Ian Corbett | Project Leader
This week we received the agreement for the purchase of land from the City of Cape Town on which the new Lonwabo Special Care Centre will be built.
If all goes well, we could be building before the end of 2Q 2020. Change management is going to play a vital role in ensuring the success of the new centre. We are busy creating a multi-disciplinary advisory team as we begin the process of upskilling the team that will run it.
One aspect we must not under estimate is the scale of the change that inclusivity represents within a community such as Mfuleni. Many people do not believe that despite their disabilities, children in centres such as Lonwabo have the ability to learn, play and enjoy themselves. Changing perceptions such as these is going to be important.
Starting Chance launched a campaign during September to raise awareness as well as funds. We challenged ourselves and the other schools in our programme to organise events in which children at Lonwabo could participate. Starting Chance provided a modest amount of seed money to the principals to cover food and materials and our fieldworkers were on-hand to advise and assist with planning - the rest was up to them, and they did not disappoint!
The results have been amazing for everyone involved. It was a special time for Thandeka, the principal of Lonwabo, as colleagues and teachers from other schools visited Lonwabo with their children. Activities ranged from heritage day celebrations to musical concerts to outdoor play and games, as well as creative art. Principal Princess says, "It was a amazing to see all our children together - this is inclusive education."
Transport can be very challenging, so outings are rare indeed. But no problem for Jama, principal of Mzamomhle, who arranged an outing for children to N1 City - it was a major hit with Lonwabo children. Principal Thandeka said "Some of the children had never travelled by bus, never been in a shopping center, never saw or had the opportunity to play games with other children. It was a great experience for them." It was also an opportunity to introduce the children to a playground, where the roundabout, swings and seesaw were all enjoyed.
The heightened stimulation and range of activities had a dramatic impact - some children spoke for the first time, opening up a world of new possibilities. These are exciting things to witness. And of course the freedom walkers which were donated at the start of the campaign were used, allowing some of the children the freedom to explore for themselves.
Jama, Principal of Mzamomhle Educare says "We are doing a great thing in front of God's eyes because most people don't want to do anything with these children." "Wooow! What a day... no words can explain this. It was really enjoyable and wonderful."
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