Summary

Caring for Special Needs children comes with many additional expenses and demands which means many orphanages simply can't cope. This initiative aims to provide support to the Ikhayalethemba Village orphanage which is home to around 10 children with special needs. It also aims to provide care and education for other children in the local township including those attending the Nceduluntu Educare Centre.

Background

Mama Lumka is affectionately known as "The Wheelbarrow Lady/Saint" from the days when she walked through the township collecting children who had been abused/neglected taking them to her own home to provide care. The Ikhayalethemba Village and Nceduluntu educare centres have taken on the considerable challenge of providing children with a safe, nurturing, educational environment. Unfortunately lack of funding means they struggle to provide the degree of care they would like or that is needed

Project aims

We aim to support Ikhayalethemba and Nceduluntu to provide quality educational programmes  for the children in a safe, secure environment.Donations will fund improvements to the centres, provide resources to further develop educational programs and support training for staff at the centres particularly for children with special needs. This project will fund some much needed equipment which will enable the local staff to provide the best level of care possible.

Long term sustainability

Early Childhood Development has been identified in South Africa and as a critical point for the country's social and economic transformation. Supporting local staff to develop their skills and developing effective learning environments will ensure that access to education for these children will continue. By offering help and guidance to those families struggling to care for their children with special needs we hope to reduce the number of children going into care.