Centre offers support to disabled children
The Sinethemba Special Care Centre in Masiphumelele has been helping children with disabilities since 1982.
The non-profit, which is part of the Fish Hoek-Kommetjie-Noordhoek Welfare Association (FHKNWA), caters to children with physical and intellectual disabilities up to the age of 18.
Established in 1954, the association is run by a management committee of volunteers who meet every month.
The centre, which relies on donors, fund-raising and state subsidy, has 58 children, and in 2018, its community licence was extended to accommodate 60 children to include children from Hout Bay, according to its CEO and principal, Lezanne Raath.
The children’s disabilities include autism, foetal alcohol syndrome, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy.
Daily transport to and from the centre is provided for about 90% of the children, including children from Hout Bay, while the rest are brought by their parents.
The Department of Social Development covers a portion of the transport costs and a third of the centre’s income, but Ms Raath said that financial sustainability remained a concern.
School fees are R340 a month of which R175 goes towards transport, but not all parents could afford that, said Ms Raath.
“Transport is a major concern as we only have one driver and one Quantum and with the cost of petrol and the maintenance of the vehicle, it is expensive,” she said.
Referrals are received from Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital as well as Victoria and 2 Military hospitals, and the Western Cape Education Department assists Sinethemba with the children's daily learning programme as do physio and occupational therapists.
The centre has a cook and dietician to ensure that the children get at least one balanced meal daily.
The centre’s goal is to make the children as independent as possible so that they can be referred to schools for pupils with special needs that follow an adapted mainstream curriculum.
According to Ms Raath, the centre referred 10 children to such schools last year and this year, six children were referred to a special needs school in Hout Bay.
The FHKNWA also runs a weekly support group that offers life skills, arts and crafts, and a sense of belonging to young disabled adults.
Ms Raath said the association would welcome new committee members to volunteer their time.
“It is very rewarding to make a difference in these children’s lives,” she said.
Visit www.sinethemba.info for more information.
