WHEN Thembekile Tshabalala faced challenges in taking care of her son Nkanyezi, who was born with cerebral palsy, she also wanted to make it easier for other parents.
A few months before Nkanyezi died she opened the Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre - a day care facility in Orlando West, Soweto.
Nkanyezi was born with cerebral palsy and hydrosuphulus, which is the medical term for brain damage, and died in September 2000.
"Before Nkanyezi died I took him as a tool of learning," the 2007 Woman of the Year finalist said.
Tshabalala said when she first started the centre in 1998 it was called the Dimpho Stimulation centre. It assisted parents and other organisations with training on caregiving.
Her love for the children becomes bigger every day.
"I enjoy being here. Some of the kids remind me of Nkanyezi," Tshabalala said.
Among other needs the centre is subsidised by the South African Mental Health Federation and the Department of Health and Social Development, yet Tshabalala said it was still not enough for the children's needs.
The centre constantly has to raise money for food, beds and wheelchairs.
Sometimes Tshabalala has to pay the caregivers from her own pocket.
When a new caregiver joins the team Tshabalala insists on warning them about the challenges that come with the job.
"Before they start working I explain clearly that this is not easy and sometimes they might not get paid," she said.
A quiet and serene environment, with a brightly coloured building and the soft sounds of children trying to make sense of themselves comes from inside the small classrooms. The centre cares for intellectually disabled children aged between three and 18 years.
"The purpose of this place is for disabled children to meet and not be left hidden away," Nkanyezi administrator Irene Mboweni said.
The centre can only accommodate 40 children at a time. Each of the four classes has 10 children and two caregivers. In total the centre has 13 staff members, including a cook.
Parents pay R300 in school fees and between R300 and R420 for transport a month.
"Some parents cannot afford the fees, so they are forced to keep their kids at home. Others just come and go," Mboweni said.
"Most of the time it becomes difficult for the kids to stay with us because they become too ill."
On the stimulation side of things a room equipped with special toys is used to excite the children's three senses - touch, oral and hearing.
The children can also take advantage of a park specially built for disabled people by the City of Johannesburg.
To keep their curiosity up, the centre takes them on field trips.
The greatest reward for Tshabalala and Mboweni is when parents say they notice an improvement in their children.
Nonhlanhla Msomi, who has been a caregiver at Nkanyezi for five years, said she landed there because of her passion for helping people with disabilities.
"I had a disabled sibling, so I felt the need to help others like him."
Twinkle little star
WHEN Thembekile Tshabalala faced challenges in taking care of her son Nkanyezi, who was born with cerebral palsy, she also wanted to make it easier for other parents.
A few months before Nkanyezi died she opened the Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre - a day care facility in Orlando West, Soweto.
Nkanyezi was born with cerebral palsy and hydrosuphulus, which is the medical term for brain damage, and died in September 2000.
"Before Nkanyezi died I took him as a tool of learning," the 2007 Woman of the Year finalist said.
Tshabalala said when she first started the centre in 1998 it was called the Dimpho Stimulation centre. It assisted parents and other organisations with training on caregiving.
Her love for the children becomes bigger every day.
"I enjoy being here. Some of the kids remind me of Nkanyezi," Tshabalala said.
Among other needs the centre is subsidised by the South African Mental Health Federation and the Department of Health and Social Development, yet Tshabalala said it was still not enough for the children's needs.
The centre constantly has to raise money for food, beds and wheelchairs.
Sometimes Tshabalala has to pay the caregivers from her own pocket.
When a new caregiver joins the team Tshabalala insists on warning them about the challenges that come with the job.
"Before they start working I explain clearly that this is not easy and sometimes they might not get paid," she said.
A quiet and serene environment, with a brightly coloured building and the soft sounds of children trying to make sense of themselves comes from inside the small classrooms. The centre cares for intellectually disabled children aged between three and 18 years.
"The purpose of this place is for disabled children to meet and not be left hidden away," Nkanyezi administrator Irene Mboweni said.
The centre can only accommodate 40 children at a time. Each of the four classes has 10 children and two caregivers. In total the centre has 13 staff members, including a cook.
Parents pay R300 in school fees and between R300 and R420 for transport a month.
"Some parents cannot afford the fees, so they are forced to keep their kids at home. Others just come and go," Mboweni said.
"Most of the time it becomes difficult for the kids to stay with us because they become too ill."
On the stimulation side of things a room equipped with special toys is used to excite the children's three senses - touch, oral and hearing.
The children can also take advantage of a park specially built for disabled people by the City of Johannesburg.
To keep their curiosity up, the centre takes them on field trips.
The greatest reward for Tshabalala and Mboweni is when parents say they notice an improvement in their children.
Nonhlanhla Msomi, who has been a caregiver at Nkanyezi for five years, said she landed there because of her passion for helping people with disabilities.
"I had a disabled sibling, so I felt the need to help others like him."
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