The second United Nations (UN) Millennium Developmental Goals included the achievement of universal primary education by 2015, which includes children with disabilities. But for millions of children with physical and intellectual disability this goal may not be close to realization, despite various UN Declarations affirming their rights to education. To address this dire situation, Breede Valley APD led the way in establishing 4 Special Daycare Centres in partnership with various stakeholders and beneficiaries:
Rise and Shine Special Daycare Centre, Worcester Caring and Sharing Special Daycare Centre, Touws River Umnenge Special Daycare Centre, De Doorns Rawsonville Special Daycare Centre, Rawsonville
Our special day care centres are non-residential facilities that provides for the educational development, physical development, training, stimulation and care of children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. Children with special care needs are able to benefit from a carefully planned stimulation program.
RISE AND SHINE SPECIAL CARE CENTRE
The Rise and Shine Special Care Centre, Worcester, provides for the educational development, physical development, training, stimulation and care of 25 children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities from mostly impoverished communities in Worcester. This centre provides the blue print for all of the other special care centres established to address the educational and developmental needs of children with disabilities in the Breede Valley.
CARING AND SHARING SPECIAL CARE CENTRE
The Caring and Sharing Special Care Centre, Touws River, provides for the educational development, physical development, training, stimulation and care of 14 children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities from the impoverished community of Touws River. The Caring and Sharing Special Care Centre is the only one of its sort in Touws River, addressing a great need in the area and providing accessible and inclusive services to children with disabilities in the community.
UMNENGE SPECIAL CARE CENTRE
The Umnenge Special Care Centre, De Doorns, established in 2017, provides for the educational development, physical development, training, stimulation and care of 21 children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities from the farming community of De Doorns. The Umnenge Special Care Centre is the only one if its sort in De Doorns, addressing a great need in the area. Although currently very under resources, this centre provides much needed services and support to children with disabilities and their parents in this vulnerable community.
RAWSONVILLE SPECIAL CARE CENTRE
The Rawsonville Special Care Centre, Rawsonville, established in 2019, provides for the educational development, physical development, training, stimulation and care of 8 children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities from the farming community of Rawsonville. This centre is currently receiving no government funding and their operational budget is placed under a lot of strain while ensuring quality, accessible services to children with disabilities from this area. The Rawsonville Special Care Centre is the only one if its sort in Rawsonville, addressing a great need in the area.
BREWELSKLOOF VULNERABLE CHILDREN PROJECT
At the end of 2019, Breede Valley APD was provided the opportunity to initiate and manage an early childhood development centre in the Paediatric Ward of the Brewelskloof Hospital. This project allows for the educational development, physical development, training, stimulation and care of vulnerable young children admitted to the Brewelskloof Paediatric Ward, ensuring ongoing, accessible and inclusive services to vulnerable young children.
PARTNERS FOR LIFE CAREGIVER SUPPORT
In association with the Kinderfonds Mamas, the Partners for Life programme provides training, guidance and support opportunities to the caregivers of children and youth with disabilities. Through this partnership and skills development programme, the caregivers of children and youth with disabilities are empowered, encouraged and supported to improve their current lifestyle, parenting skills, self worth and home circumstances. By partnering with the caregivers of children and youth with disabilities for life, we would like to enable them to stay focused and motivated on their dreams while providing optimal care and opportunities to their children. We would also like to guide them in advocating and lobbying for their children and other persons with disabilities in their communities and break the stigma surrounding disability and related issues.
COMMKIDZ
Although some children with disabilities are able to attend Special Care Centers, some of these centers are inaccessible for children living in rural area, do not have the capacity and/or are restricted by strict government policies and are not able to attend to the needs of all children with disabilities. Many children are still excluded from any form of education, especially those living in rural areas. These children have the right to accessible, educational development, enabling them to reach a maximum level of independence and integration in their communities.
In partnership with the Kinderfonds Mamas, the CommKidz Project aims to provide accessible educational development, physical development, social/emotional development, training, stimulation and care to children with disabilities who are not able to access Special Care Centers/Child Development Centers in their respective communities by implementing and facilitating a Home Individual Educational/Developmental Plan in the child’s home with the caregivers.
SAAM-STAAN ADOLESCENT PROJECT
After launching the CommKidz Project in August 2018, it was discovered that there are a number of adolescents in Touws River who have no access to the education system due to a variety of reasons. Through the Saam-Staan Adolescent Project, pre-vocational training, life skills training and vocational training are provided on a daily basis to 10 adolescents from Touws River not currently attending any other educational institution. The project aims to provide these vulnerable adolescents with skills which they can contribute according to their strengths, to increase their independency so to diminish their burden of care on society and to stop them from falling prey to the negative influences of crime and substance abuse.
